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- Jerome Williams Obituary
Williams, Jerome Paul "Jerry"
With hearts full of love and gratitude for all that he was, his family remembers the life of our beloved Jerome Paul "Jerry" Williams. Jerry was born into a large Lebanese family on December 19, 1958 in Niagara Falls, New York, to the late Emilyne (née Sowma) and Joseph N. Williams, the third child in what would grow to become a band of five brothers. Jerry, a lifelong Catholic whose devotion to his faith was deeply personal, leaves behind a legacy of hard work, entrepreneurship, patriotism, love of family, and meaningful and lasting friendships. Never one to follow the crowd, Jerry charted his own path from his earliest days in business. Spanning the industries of waste management, demolition, contracting, transportation, manufacturing, and real estate, Jerry's fifty-plus year career in business reflected a dynamic and truly entrepreneurial spirit. An extensive, and even exhaustive, list of his specific accomplishments, interests, and investments could never measure the true impact Jerry's vision and leadership had on his community and everyone with whom he worked. Always seeing opportunity where others saw obstacles, Jerry infused every venture with creativity and a refusal to settle for the expected or ordinary. Convention was no match for Jerry, which inspired - and frustrated - those of whom had the privilege of witnessing him in action. Jerry was open-hearted, authentic, and generous with everyone he loved. His family and friends all knew that he was the one to whom you made "the call" whatever you needed, you knew he would be there, with no judgment, no expectation of anything in return, and likely with a silver lining. He gave without needing recognition, and he cared without condition. His loyalty ran deep, and his friendships some lifelong, others newly forged, with many stemming from business relationships were among his greatest treasures. To know Jerry was to know his pride in his three children, Bridget, Brian, and Brandon, who each had more than a father in him he was a partner, a best friend, and a north star. It was Jerry's greatest joy to work alongside his children, teaching them everything he knew, but above all else, that "the harder you work, the luckier you get." Jerry was also recently engaged to the late Natalie Costa Sansivero, who is survived by her children, Gianna and Louis. Jerry and Natalie's mutual excitement for and delight in their life together was apparent to all those who crossed their path. In addition to his loving children, Jerry is also survived by his daughter-in-law Ashleigh, his daughter's fiancé Andrew, his son Brian's significant other Mackenzie, two grandsons, Greyson Paul and Jaxson Michael, four brothers, Joseph (Laura), James (Kathleen), Jon, and Jeffrey (Marla); Auntie May Jowdy, Uncle Fran and Aunt Marie Williams, Aunt Martha Williams Bennett, and countless cousins, nieces, and nephews. Jerry was also eagerly anticipating the birth of his first granddaughter. To all who knew and loved Jerry, in his honor, "Keep It Rolling." A memorial mass for Jerry will be celebrated on Thursday, August 7th, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael Church, 651 Washington Street, Buffalo, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Variety Club The Children's Charity www.varietybuffalo.org.
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