Gerald B. Coffey

Gerald Coffey passed away peacefully on January 15, 2023 in Boca Raton, Florida. He was 82  years old.

Gerald grew up in the beautiful mountain community of Collettsville, North Carolina. Though he  and his twin sister had only 18 in their graduating class, his parents extended his education with professional vocal and dance training. He competed in and won statewide music competitions and his resonant tenor voice earned him a music scholarship to the University of Kentucky. Gerald graduated with a Business degree and proudly dedicated his entire 43 year career to the Bernhardt Furniture Company, where he achieved great success in sales and as part of the executive leadership team. He was well known for his unstoppable work ethic, his unwavering principals, and for his boundless energy. He always had a spring in his step and a smile on his face. Gerald was a veteran who was proud to serve his country in the North Carolina Army National Guard.

Throughout his life Gerald shared the gift of his beautiful voice in his church and community as a soloist. He loved participating in musical theater, from college roles as Curly in “Oklahoma” to the professional outdoor musical “Horn in the West’, to King Kaspar in “Amahl in the Night Visitors” in his late 60s, Gerald had a gift for music that he enjoyed and shared to the very end of his days. This passion for music and his Christian Faith is how he met and married his wife.  The duet of Gerald’s tenor and Pam’s Soprano was nothing short of glorious for everyone lucky enough to witness. We will miss hearing and seeing them perform together.

The genuine friendliness of his southern upbringing was a hallmark of Gerald’s larger-than-life personality. He loved to make people laugh. He was an accomplished amateur photographer and enjoyed taking and sharing photographs of his friends. He cared deeply for his friends.

Gerald had a lifelong love of automobiles. From sports-cars like the 1964 Corvette he owned when he met Pam, to the impeccably preserved 1950 Nash Ambassador that he accompanied his father in purchasing when he was 10 years old, and countless well-cared for vehicles in between. He lovingly restored that 1950 Nash, adding only seatbelts so he could safely transport his grandchildren, who thrilled at the rides when he drove it around town, to church and occasional car shows. He took great pleasure in cars, shared that love with many friends in the automobile collecting community, and passed that love on to all his children.

Gerald is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Pamela Treece Coffey and their three children Ann Coffey Bean, Scott M. Coffey and David R. Coffey, and seven grandchildren, Emily, Emma, Ransom, Cadence, Delilah, Addison and Caleb. He was preceded in death by his parents Colene and Bruce Coffey and his sisters, Jean Lindley and Janice Caroway.

A celebration of life is planned for February 6 at 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Pompano Beach, 2331 NE 26th Ave Pompano Beach, FL 33062.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to The Parkinson’s Foundation 200 SE 1st Street Suite 800 Miami, FL 33131 or First Presbyterian Church of Pompano Beach, 2331 NE 26th Ave Pompano Beach, FL 33062.

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