Big Y Co-Founder Dies at Age 90

SN STAFF

SOMERS, Conn. – Services were held here this week for Gerald E. “Gerry” D’Amour, 90, co-founder and former president of Big Y Foods, who died Aug. 15.

D'Amour, along with his late brother, Paul H. D’Amour, who died in 1991, started Big Y in 1936 when they purchased the “Y” Cash Market located at the “Y” intersection of Meadow and Chicopee streets in the Willimansett section of Chicopee, Mass.

He served four years in the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1942, and later was active in many civic, social and community organizations.

He was also a member of the Massachusetts Food Association — where he was named to the MFA Hall of Fame — and the Food Marketing Institute. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanne E. (Fontaine) D’Amour; two sons, four daughters and 10 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in D'Amour's memory to the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, c/o Baystate Health Foundation, Inc., 280 Chestnut St. Springfield, MA 01199; the Murphy-Avis Respite Fund, 120 Chestnut St. East Longmeadow, MA 01028; or Wernick Adult Day Care c/o Jewish Nursing Home, 77 Converse St., Longmeadow, MA 01106.