Jeremiah Kevin Cronin

Jeremiah Kevin Cronin, 84, resident of Millbrae, CA passed away October 11, 2014. Loving husband of Margaret Cronin, Jerry passed away peacefully at his home. Jerry was the man in the room who never had an empty chair next to him. Everyone wanted to be near him. He was born May 11, 1930 in Rathmore, County Kerry, Ireland to Bartholomew and Julia Cronin, and was raised from birth until it was time for school by his Grandmother Kate Moynihan, his Auntie Bridget and Uncle Pat in a one room house on a small plot of bog in Knockfada he affectionately called "Medicine Bow". In his own words "he grew up as wild as the rabbits in the fields" and his happiest childhood memories are of his time spent in Medicine Bow. Jerry traded in his future as a blacksmith in Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1952. He was quickly called to serve his adopted country and he did so proudly as member of the U.S. Military during the Korean conflict. He married the love of his life, Margaret Corr in 1956 at St. Agnes in San Francisco. Jerry and Margaret moved to Millbrae in 1963 where he served the Millbrae Fire Department for 29 years and rose to the rank of Chief, retiring in1987. Jerry was a St. Dunstan parishioner for over 50 years and an active member and leader in the San Francisco Irish community. As with many things Irish, the details are cloudy but it was in his kitchen in Millbrae that he, "Big" Pat Brosnan and friends hatched the idea for what was to become the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco. He is survived by his wife Margaret; his three children, Bartholomew Kevin Cronin (Patricia), Alphonsus Cronin (Mary), and Julie Peralta (Ken); seven grandchildren, Briana Cronin Clifford (Kevin), Meagan Cronin, Alyse Cronin, Brian Cronin, Aiden Cronin, Jeremiah Peralta, and Elaine Peralta; his brothers Bartholomew of Dublin Ireland and John of Tureencahill County Kerry; and devoted sister, Kate Mary Cremin of Churchill County Cork Ireland . He is predeceased by his parents Bartholomew and Julia; his son Jeremiah Richard Patrick;sister Nora Theresa; and brother Willie Cronin of Cobh, County Cork, Ireland.