Gerard A. McGowan Jr., 54, passed away Tuesday May 1, 2007 at his home in Villanova after a valiant seven month battle with cancer.

Son of the late Gerard A. and Catherine B. McGowan, he is survived by his loving wife, Ady Pearce McGowan; daughter Tara Handforth, son-in-law Kevin Handforth, and daughter Megan McGowan; grandchildren Lauren, Ryan and Erin Handforth; sisters Regina Kuehn (Jack) and Marie Torrence (Bill); and brothers Dennis (Maureen) and Bernard.

Jerry and his family grew up in Ardmore where he attended St. Denis School. Jerry was a graduate of Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor and attended St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. In 1974, Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Ady Pearce. He worked in the cabinet industry for Triangle Pacific as a Regional Sales Manager for 17 years and went on to start his own business, TCP Cabinets, in 1995. Mr. McGowan worked with many local builders and opened several distributorships for Armstrong Cabinets in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware markets.

Jerry enjoyed his family and had a great love of children with twenty nieces and nephews, nineteen great-nieces and nephews, and six godchildren. His unfailing generosity towards his family, countless friends and his unknown acts of kindness endeared him to anyone he encountered. His engaging smile, sparkling blue eyes, and contagious laughter brightened the hearts of all those who knew him.

He was an avid reader and loved to travel, especially taking cruises. He enjoyed spending time with his family at their summer home in Avalon, which was always filled with family, friends, love, and laughter. His loyalty, generosity, and respect were the core of his being. Jerry McGowan was a loyal and trusted friend, loved by everyone. He was a true family man, spending his time with those who meant the most to him.

Mr. McGowan was a member of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, Maris Stella Parish in Avalon, Overbrook Golf Club, Stone Harbor Golf Club and The St. George's Club in Bermuda.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas of Villanova (Villanova University Campus) on Friday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. A viewing will be held on Thursday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at McConaghy's Funeral Home, 328 W. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, and at St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken.

Donations in Mr. McGowan's name may be made to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Cancer Fund, 925 Chestnut St., 1st Floor, Suite 110, Philadelphia, PA 19107.