Jerry (Milton) Bristol died Dec. 18, 2015, at home in Twisp. Jerry was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on July 27, 1939. He leaves behind Josephine, his wife of 49 years, and their two daughters: Hilary Bristol of New Britain, Connecticut, and Katie Bristol of Twisp. Additional family members include a sister, Bonnie (and Dick) Leavenworth of Connecticut, and a brother, Peter (and Joanna) Bristol of Rhode Island, as well as several cousins throughout New England.
Jerry spent three years in the Armed Forces working in Army Intelligence. He was stationed primarily in Yorkshire, England, an area he was quite fond of and returned frequently to visit. Jerry and Josephine met when they were both working at the Hilton Hotel in Hartford, Connecticut. After moving to the Connecticut countryside, Jerry was a loyal employee of the Worsley Oil Co. in Marlborough for over 25 years.
Jerry had a passion for the outdoors. He camped and hiked along various sections of the Pacific Coast Trail and the Appalachian Trail. In 1982, Jerry spent several months trekking in Nepal. This trip fulfilled his lifelong obsession with Mt. Everest, as evident in him persuading Josephine to name their first daughter after Sir Edmund Hillary.
Jerry’s enthusiasm for hiking and appreciation of wilderness continued when he and Josephine moved to the Methow Valley in 2005. With their daughter Katie, they explored the Cascade and Sawtooth mountain ranges every chance they could.
Later in life Jerry found a valued friend and fellow voyager, Don Reddington. They were traveling a similar pathway in life, and became like brothers. Jerry and the Bristol family contributed to Don’s series of articles, “Living with Alzheimer’s,” in the Methow Valley News. Jerry was a loving husband to Josephine and dedicated father to Hilary and Katie. He was a kind, gentle and generous man who will be greatly missed by family and many friends on both coasts.
There will be a celebration of Jerry’s life in the early summer of 2016 in Twisp.
Donations in Jerry Bristol’s memory may be made to either the Lookout Coalition, P.O. Box 222, Twisp, WA 98856, or East Haddam Land Trust, P.O. Box 122, East Haddam, CT 06423.
