Gerald Edward Sauter

Gerald E. Sauter died on Friday, August 29, 2025, after a brief illness.

Jerry was born on November 3, 1943, in Rochester, NY to Ed and Elinor Sauter. He went to Aquinas Institute for high school and St. John Fisher College. He graduated with a degree in Accounting in 1965 and started his career at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. He and Mary Lou Wood were married on July 3, 1965, in Rome, NY. While doing an audit of a bank in Corning, NY in June of 1972, he had an unexpected adventure when Hurricane Agnes flooded the area. He and a coworker volunteered to make and serve food to those stranded at the hotel where they were staying.

In 1976, Jerry continued his career at Sarah Coventry in Newark, NY. He and Mary Lou moved with their four children—Terry, Mike, Rick and Christy—to a historic 1830 house in Lyons, NY. This job brought out many of his strengths as a people person. He often traveled to "Sarah" events across the country. He enjoyed being involved in the Rochester LPGA golf events sponsored by Sarah Coventry.

In 1983, Jerry began working for Bennett LeBow and his companies—leading to a move to Berkeley Heights, NJ. This job took him to a NY City office, as well as travel around the country and internationally. He spent quite a bit of time in England dealing with bankers and lawyers for the company, Brooke Yachts, located in Lowestoft. Many of the people he met during this time became lifelong friends. He also spent time in Irkutsk in Siberia—a very different kind of life.

In 1990, his office relocated to Miami, FL, which gave Mary Lou and Jerry the opportunity to enjoy summer activities all year. This meant more golf and photography for Jerry. They had hosted family and friends in their previous homes, but now they had a lot of visitors in the winter. Jerry would tell the family to book early. He would take visitors to the Everglades on tours that educated them about its uniqueness. As he began his retirement, he went on an African Safari, and photo weekends in the Great Smokies, Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone National Park. He and Mary Lou visited the children and grandchildren wherever they lived—Maryland, California, Central NY, and Pittsburgh. He loved to wear T-shirts with sayings that would get a laugh, and enjoyed comments from people who saw them. He always tried to leave people with a joke or funny story. He could often be found watching sports on TV—especially golf, his beloved Dallas Cowboys, and Syracuse University games (wearing whichever appropriate cap for that team).

Jerry is survived by his wife, Mary Lou (or as he called her, "ML—my love"), his children—Terry, Mike (Betsy), Rick (Jen), and Christy (Erik), grandchildren - Maddie, Gwyn, Ian, Kai, Andrew, Sean, and Quincy, his sister Kathy (Dick), and a very large extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Ron, and in-laws.

It's difficult to put 60+ years of experiences and caring into a few words, but when Mary Lou was with Jerry at the Jupiter Medical Center before he died, he told her he'd be in heaven in a few days, and that they had had a great life together.

There will be a Memorial Mass on June 28, 2026 at St. John Fisher University chapel. Details will follow. If you wish, a memorial donation can be sent to St. John Fisher University.