MAGLGDelano

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GERALD GIBBS DELANO, SR. 1924-2007

GeraldDelano.jpg

BIOGRAPHY

From TROWEL, February 1984, Page 15:

Hie appointment of Right Worshipful Gerald G. Delano of North Dartmouth as the Deputy Grand Master brings to Massachusetts Masonry the service of a man whose commitment to the Craft began twenty-five years ago.

A Past Master of Noquochoke Lodge 1964-65) of Westport, Brother Delano served nine years as its secretary and is now the Lodge Proxy to Grand Lodge. An affiliate with Abraham H. Howland Jr. Lodge of New Bedford, he is a Trustee of two of its funds.

A Past Master and Past Secretary of the 26th Lodge of Instruction, Brother Delano was a Grand Lodge Pursuivant (1968-69), has been a Committeeman of the Educational Department since 1970 and was the District Deputy of the New Bedford 30th District, 1973-74. He was presented the Dr. Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Medal in 1980, the year he was President of the Massachusetts Secretaries Association.

A member of York Rite and Scottish Rite Bodies, he is affiliated with Aleppo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., the Shrine Club of Southeastern Massachusetts and Royal Order of Jesters.

The President and Treasurer of Joseph K. Delano Saw Mill, Inc., he is active in the Smith Mills Congregational Church; a Dartmouth Town Meeting Member for 33 years, Dartmouth Historical Society, the Wamsutta Club of New Bedford and the Dartmouth High School Alumni Association. He served with the U.S. Army Amphibious Forces, 1943-46.

Married to the former Agnes O. Broadland, the couple has two married sons and three grandchildren. Brother Delano is proud of his family roots that trace back to 1621 with the arrival in Plymouth of the French Huguenots. One of his forebears was among the original purchasers of the Town of Dartmouth.

MEMORIAL

COUNCIL OF DELIBERATION, 2008

From Proceedings of the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation AASR NMJ 2008, Page 28:

Ill. Gerald Gibbs Delano, 33°
Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on September 14, 1924
Died on December 19, 2007

Ill. Gerald Gibbs Delano, 33° was the son of Joseph and Dora (Wilbur) Delano. He graduated from Dartmouth High School and served in the United States Army during World War II, as a Staff Sergeant assigned to the Ordnance Department. He was the President of Joseph K Delano Sawmill, Incorporated.

On September 16, 1950, he was united in marriage to Agnes Broadland. From this union was born two children, John and Gerald Delano, Jr.

He was a member of the Smith Mills Christian Congregational Church , where he served as Trustee and Chairman of the Finance Committee. Civically, he was a member of the Dartmouth Historical Society; Wamsutta Club; New Bedford Society; and served as Registrar of Voters for the Town of Dartmouth.

Brother Delano was raised a Master Mason in Noquochoke Lodge A.F. & AM. in Westport, Massachusetts, where he served as Secretary and Treasurer. He also held membership in Abraham H. Howland Lodge AF. & AM. in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He served the Grand Lodge as a member of the Education Committee and as District Deputy Grand Master.

He was exalted in Adoniram Council RAM. in 1959; greeted in New Bedford Council R. & S.M. in 1959; and knighted in Sutton Commandery No. 16, KT. in 1962.

He completed the degrees of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Fall River, now the Valley of Southeastern Massachusetts, in 1973 and served all the Scottish Rite Bodies as Treasurer for several years. On September 29, 1992, he was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33° Honorary Member of the Supreme Council at Chicago, Illinois. He was a member of the Shrine, Order of Jesters, and the Masonic Secretaries Association.

PROCEEDINGS, 2016

From Proceedings, Page 2016-222:

Gerald G. Delano, Sr., a Past Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, died in Harwich, Massachusetts in December 2007. The following memorial is provided as a supplement to the 2016 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge.

Gerald G. Delano, Sr. was a long time laborer in the vineyards of Masonry, enjoying nearly sixty years of membership in the Fraternity prior to his death in December 2007.

He was born on September 14, 1924, in Fall River, Massachusetts, and grew up in Dartmouth. He graduated from Dartmouth High School in 1942 and shortly afterward entered the United States Army, serving both in the Boston Navy Yard and overseas for more than two years. After his return from the service, he entered the family business, operating the Delano Saw Mill in Dartmouth. He was active in town affairs, serving for many years as Registrar of Voters, and was an active member of the Smith Mills Congregational Church in his home town.

Brother Delano received his Masonic degrees in Noquochoke Lodge of Westport in 1958, where he demonstrated his affection for the Craft by immediately taking Life Membership. In 1965 he served as Worshipful Master. In 1969, he served as Grand Pursuivant for R. W. Brother George R. Dewhurst, Senior Grand Warden; a few years later, M. W. Donald W. Vose appointed him as District Deputy Grand Master of the Fall River 30th Masonic District.

Brother Delano was highly regarded by the members of his own lodge, who petitioned for him to receive the Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Medal; it was awarded in 1980. His work in the Fraternity also gained the attention of the Grand Lodge, and in 1984 he was appointed Deputy Grand Master by M. W. David B. Richardson. In that year he was awarded the Henry Price Medal.

Brother Delano was active in both York and Scottish Rites in the New Bedford area, serving as treasurer of bodies in both. His work in the Scottish Rite resulted in the conferral of the 33° in 1993 by the Supreme Council.

He was active in the Fraternity until a few years before his death. He passed after a long illness at the end of 2007, after a full and productive life in and beyond the Fraternity, and was survived by two adult children and five grandchildren.

His was a life well spent, and it is profoundly hoped that he now enjoys a blissful immortality free of pain and care.

SPEECHES

FEAST OF ST. JOHN, DECEMBER 1983

From Proceedings, Page 1983-270:

Most Worshipful Grand Master and Distinguished Masons All:

Sort of overwhelms you when you hear your history read aloud. Most Worshipful Grand Master, distinguished guests, and Brethren, my previous attendance at these feasts in celebration of the anniversary of St. John the Evangelist have been happy and relaxed occasions.

Never did I dream of finding myself on this side of the head table. Reminds me of the story of this man in New York City who decided when he had a fluorescent tube burned out in his office, instead of getting hold of the superintendent of the building, he would buy one at the hardware store and bring it in, install it, and everything went fine.

Then he said, "Well, what am I going to do with the old tube? If the superintendent finds this tube, he'll know I've been changing the equipment. Well, there's a rubbish receptacle on the way to the subway. Why don't I deposit it in that on the way to the subway."

He left the building and on the way to the subway he finds the receptacle had been moved. So he proceeded to the subway. He sat down. He had the tube all wrapped in a piece of paper and held it in an upright position.

Before he knew it, somebody else had grabbed ahold of it and thinking it was an upright in the subway, he said, "Here's my opportunity." So he got up out of the subway and left the man standing there with the tube. So, Brethren, here I am with the tube.

I remember in my early days of my Masonic experience the Worshipful Master of Noquochoke Lodge in Westport asked me to take an appointed office in the Lodge. My answer was to let me start at the bottom of the line and work up slowly. And, my Brothers, here I stand before you receiving the rich rewards that are mine and my feelings are those of bewilderment.

To those who have been so supportive to me over the years, a great big thank you, and you all know who you are. The Grand Lodge Education Department has been an inspiration to me. Its leaders, whom I have assisted, have made my Masonic life very rewarding.

We are now starting on a new Masonic year and with it there will be some changes in our Lodges of Instruction. Under the guidance of our new Director, Most Worshipful Arthur H. Melanson, new programs will be instituted. And I know there is a lot of pride in the current Lodges of Instruction, but we must put first things first and get back to educating our candidates and line officers. Our fraternal fellowship must be carried on in our Lodges and other Masonic functions.

I think it is important that we search for the best in others, and in return give them our best. We should truly live our Masonic way of life each day and we will help to make this world a better place, better than when we found it.

And to you, Most Worshipful Grand Master, I pledge to you my personal loyalty and to the Grand Lodge and will be ready to serve you and assist you at any time. And speaking for the appointed officers, I wish to express our sincere thank you for the privilege to serve Masonry and this Grand Lodge in the years ahead.

After having been given this opportunity to speak, I will now be seated and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Thank you.


Distinguished Brothers