Jerome “Jay” Dougher of Middletown passed away peacefully May 7, 2025, at 80 years young, surrounded by loved ones.
Jay grew up in Elizabeth, where he met the love of his life, Lynn Dougher, in 1960 at Rosemary’s soda shop. They married in 1966 and moved to Middletown in 1968.
Jay had four children and was the foundation of the family, providing unwavering support. He began his lifelong career at Bell Laboratories, staying through all of the company’s transitions, eventually retiring from Avaya.
After retirement, he dedicated most of his time to loving and supporting his family. He always enjoyed helping them with projects, teaching them everything he knew about fixing cars, and cheering on their sports teams. He had a special way of offering his wisdom to support each grandchild’s wildest dreams.
Jay was involved at St. Mary’s Church as an usher and frequently enjoyed spending time with his friends after Mass. He valued lifelong friendships and maintained close connections throughout the years, always looking forward to spending time with those he cared about.
His family was his greatest source of pride. He and Lynn began the tradition of hosting Sunday dinners, which served as a time for the family to come together and spend meaningful time with each other. Sundays were dedicated to watching Yankees games, gathering around the table to enjoy home-cooked meals, and playing games together. Sunday dinners were the highlight of his week, bringing his home to life with the love and laughter of their family.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Colleen), Tom (Camber), Kim (John), and Diane (Walter). He is also survived by his 10 grandchildren, two brothers, Dennis Dougher and Ken Dougher, and sister, Trisha Ingleston, all of whom will cherish the countless memories they have of him.
He was predeceased by his parents, Jerome and Dorothy Dougher, and his wife, Lynn Dougher.
Family and friends are invited to say goodbye to Jay from 4 to 8 p.m. May 15 at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. May 16 at St. Mary’s Church, 19 Cherry Tree Farm Road, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at lls.org.
The article originally appeared in the May 15 – 21, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
