Gerardo Vitale, known by many as Jerry, passed away Sunday night, September 13th, at the age of 70. He was a resident of Pasadena, Maryland, for over 30 years, but was born in St. Andrea, a small town in the southern Italian province of Calabria, on March 21st, 1956. In December of 1968, he arrived in New York City and soon traveled down to Baltimore, Maryland. He arrived in the United States with no speaking or reading knowledge of the English language, but was able to learn enough to receive a diploma from Patterson High School in Baltimore, Maryland.

As a teenager, he began cutting meat at a local butcher shop, which ultimately inspired his lifelong career in the food industry. While living and growing up in Baltimore, he lived on Luzerne Avenue. He enjoyed spending time with his family, and his cousins adored the time they spent together. By the early 1980’s, he decided to jumpstart a food distribution business with his partner, Enzo Pina, called Impero Foods and Meats. For 40 years, the business specialized in providing quality Italian food to restaurants and shops throughout the Baltimore-Washington area and the state of Maryland as a whole.

In the fall of 1989, he met the love of his life, Ashlye, and after roughly four years of dating, they got married in August 21st of 1993. The two enjoyed their time together while living on the Chesapeake Bay for the next four years. Then, on May 18th, 1997, Ashlye gave birth to their first and only son, Giuseppe. He was beyond ecstatic to finally be a father.

Unfortunately, in 2001, Gerardo was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer. Despite the odds stacked against him, he survived life-saving surgery and underwent additional treatment for six months following the procedure. Miraculously, three years later, on March 22nd, 2004, Ashlye gave birth to their daughter, Isabella.

Throughout his life, he was an avid fisherman, hunter, and meticulous gardener who enjoyed surrounding himself with nature and appreciating the Earth in all of its glory. He was also a famous cook to anybody who met him, known for his grilling of meats and constant tomato sauces. If he was the host, he made sure you were given a full meal.

In the 25 years since beating his stomach cancer, he repeatedly stated that he was living on borrowed time, and he strived to live his life to the fullest every chance he got. His primary goal in life, until the very end, was to provide for his family, which he did with an inspirational amount of determination and resolve every day.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Giuseppe and Teresa Vitale. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ashlye Lee; his son, Giuseppe Gerardo; his daughter, Isabella Lee; his sister, Carla Granese; his mother-in-law, Nancy Zyriek; his sister-in-law, Nancy Cusic; and his brother-in-law, Donald Zyriek II. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins, not only in the United States but in Italy as well.

Family and friends may visit on Friday September 25, 2026 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care,P.A 495 Ritchie Hwy Severna Park, MD 21146. A service will be held on Saturday September 26, 2026 at 11:00am in the funeral home chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask that you donate to the American Cancer Society. The Vitale family thanks everyone for their incredible support during this difficult period. https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/campaign/Gerado-Vitale