Obituary for
Jerry D. Porta
Jerry D. Porta, 80
Loving family man, Atlantic City casino executive
Jerry D. Porta, 80, passed away on April 21, 2017.
He was born in Bensonhurst, where he met and married his sweetheart, Evelyn, in 1957. They moved to Staten Island in 1969 where they raised their family. His last years were spent living closer to his daughter in Galloway, N.J. He was a U.S. Navy veteran.
Jerry was one of the pioneers of bringing legalized casino gambling to Atlantic City. In the late 1960s, he began organizing junkets to Las Vegas casinos and later expanded to Puerto Rico and various islands. He was a casino marketing executive at the Golden Nugget, Caesar's, Playboy and Resorts, and also organized numerous celebrity bocce ball tournaments.
The Don Bosco Jesuit Retreat House in Haverstraw was a favorite place to have an annual family picnic.
Jerry was married for 48 years to his wife, Evelyn, who passed in 2005.
He is survived by his two children, Denise and Bill Ayrer, and Michael A. Porta and Laura Auriti; grandchildren, Christina Porta, Andrew Ayrer, Michael J. Porta, Christian Ayrer; siblings, Michael L. and Dorothy Porta, Marie and Gene Caiafa. He was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Mary Porta.
Visitation is at Scarpaci Funeral Home of Staten Island on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass is Monday at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church at 10 a.m. Interment is in Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital .
Scarpaci Funeral Home
of Staten Island
6389 Amboy Road
Staten Island, N.Y. 10309
(718) 966-7800
