Jerry Clifford Lischke

Jerry C. Lischke, 81
July 13, 1943 – November 7, 2024

NEWBURYPORT – Jerry Clifford Lischke passed away gently at home in the warm embrace of his family on Thursday afternoon.

Jerry was born in New Rochelle, NY to Franklin and Martha Taylor Lischke, and raised in Ridgefield, CT. His love of cars kicked in at an early age, and he rebuilt the engine of a 1940 Ford while still in high school.

In 1966, after attending Roanoke College and Babson Insitute, Jerry married the love of his life, Catherine Elizabeth (Bette) Hanlon. They moved to Newbury in 1967. Jerry began working at Davis Electric in Newburyport, where he excelled as an auto mechanic and developed a following for high performance engines. In 1972, after the purchase of his first home, Jerry became a realtor, eventually merging his solid talents with David Tierney as co-owner and President of Harbor Realty. Jerry was a highly regarded Newburyport Broker for fifty years.

Jerry was passionate about breathing new life into old buildings (as well as old cars) and restored over forty antique properties in the greater Newburyport area. In 1996, unable to locate any large-scale office space, Jerry eyed the abandoned Towle building, contacted its new owner and convinced him to convert the building into 100,000 square feet of professional office space, which had previously been unavailable in Newburyport.

Everything Jerry touched, he made beautiful. He built a custom Corvtte race car from salvaged wrecks, scrapped (even unearthed) parts and an engine block pulled from the Merrimac River. This orange icon graced race tracks in and outside of New England. It wouldn’t be summer in Newburyport without this car turning tourists’ heads downtown.

As a founder, director and trustee, Jerry an active supporter of the Harbor Schools, Emmaus House in Haverhill, and The Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimac Valley. He was on the board of Directors and Audit committee of the Newburyport Bank, President of the Greater Newburyport Board of Realtors (1985), and Realtor of the Year (1986). He was a lifetime member of the Dalton Club and active participant in many local car shows and treasured his Saturday morning Cars & Coffee meet-ups with his dear friends and their beautiful machines.

Jerry’s love and security for his family directed every decision of his life, and, as an only child, he was most proud of the family that he and Bette created.

Jerry was predeceased by his son-in-law, Stan Norton. In addition to his loving wife, Bette, Jerry is survived by his daughters, Lela Wright (Mark), Kirsten Norton, and Dean Lischke (Amanda); his grandchildren, Darren Wright (Jessee), Jonathon Wright (Talya), Elizabeth Rose Wright (Nick),Whitney Lischke, Garrett Lischke, Isabelle Lischke, Una Lily Norton and Amelia Lischke; his great-grandsons Victor, Roland, Wallace and Chrisham Clifford Wright; and Jerry was eager to ring in the New Year with his first great-grand daughter.

Visiting hours will be held at Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport on Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 4 to 7 P.M. A memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 10:30 A.M. at the Hope Community Church, 11 Hale Street, Newburyport.

Donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Merrimac Valley 18 Maple Street, Salisbury, MA 01952.