Patrol Officer James P. Gerakines, age 33, of North Reading, died unexpectedly, Thursday, April 23, 2009.
Jim was born on October 28, 1975 in Winchester, MA, he was the beloved son of Stephen and the late Barbara (Alexander) Gerakines of North Reading. Jim lived in Wilmington for a few years prior to moving to North Reading with his family when he was young. Jim was a graduate of North Reading High School Class of 1994. Following high school, Jim studied Criminal Justice at Middlesex Community College, following his dream to become a Police Officer.
Officer James Gerakines was hired by the Shirley Police Department on June 26, 2000 and resigned January 12, 2008 to be an officer for the North Reading Police Department, where he was a motorcycle patrolman.
During his tenure in Shirley, Officer Gerakines attended and successfully completed Mental Health Issues in Law Enforcement, held at the University of Lowell on april 4, 2002. He was commended by Chief Paul Thibodeau for his decisive action and immediate response to Sgt. Dale Prentiss on the morning of August 28, 2002. He was also commended for being instrumental in saving the life of Sergeant Prentiss. Sgt. Prentiss was shot in the line of duty on August 28, 2002. Officer James Gerakines was nominated by Shirley Police Chief Paul G. Thibodeau to receive the “extraordinary service award”. The purpose of the award is to recognize area professionals in the emergency services field for their extraordinary efforts. Officer Gerakines was given this award in June of 2003.
He successfully completed DNA Collection Training with the Mass State Police Crime Lab on September 22, 2003. Officer Gerakines received another commendation from Chief Thibodeau on March 2, 2004 for being at the scene of a sudden death. Chief Thibodeau mentions that Jim’s professional image and competence along with his stoic presence and the strength of that presence in a time of crisis was recognized and sought after by the grieving family. He was commended by the chief for being the epitome of these qualities. He successfully completed a Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Performance Level training course on November 1, 2005, and he completed an 80 hour accident investigation course held at the Boylston Regional Police Academy from December 4 through 15, 2006.
Officer Gerakines was well liked not only by his fellow officers in both Police Departments, but in surrounding area departments and his by his fellow officers in his police academy class.
Jim was a motorcycle enthusiast who enjoyed riding with friends and taking his bike up the coast to York Maine. Jim was also a talented photographer and video editor. Jim will be remembered by his family and friends as a quiet individual with a big heart who was always there to lend a hand and to help others. His passing is a great loss to his family, friends, fellow officers and his community.
Jim is survived by his father Stephen Gerakines. He was the loving brother of Cheryl Moulaison & her husband Kenneth of Tewksbury, Stephen Gerakines, Jr. & his wife Jeanne of Pelham, NH, Perry Gerakines & his wife Suzanne of Birmingham, AL, Timothy Gerakines of Raymond, NH, Keri Hubbard & her husband Cliff, Jr. of Billerica, and Joseph Gerakines of North Reading. James is also survived by many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, & fellow officers.
Funeral Services will be held at the Wilmington United Methodist Church, 87 Church Street, Wilmington, on Tuesday, April 28th at 11:00 a.m. Interment Riverside Cemetery, North Reading. Visiting hours Monday, April27th from 2-9 p.m. at the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington.
Memorial donations in James’s name may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 60 Walnut St., #102, Wellesley, MA 02482.
There simply aren’t words to describe the sense of loss I feel, Jim. You were a dear and valued friend, colleague, and fellow rider. You leave behind a legacy of achievement, trust, compassion, and professionalism. The priviledge was indeed mine. I shall miss you all of my days. Now go quietly into that good night…
You will be missed dearly, as a great friend,fellow ryder and a ruff ryder brother! I will miss that great personalty, smile, and pure love u showed for everthing u attempted wether it was riding, working, taking pics, or just hanging out…just a all around great friend.
We would like to give our deepest sympathy to the Gerakines Family & the NSRR Family for thier great loss. We Are All ONE In The Riding World…
Boston Stealth Ryderz
You could ask for more of a genuine friend , or a more loyal brother. May you be in a better place and be riding that repsol to the pearly gates. You will be missed.
JIM IS MY BROTHER AND A FRIEND A QUIET MAN WITH A GENTLE HEART , IN THE SHORT TIME I KNEW HIM WE BECAME FRIENDS,AND FAMILY I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TOGETHER AND I WILL MISS HIM GREATLY. MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY THAT KNEW HIM AND LOVED HIM . JIM YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY THOUGHTS MAY YOU RIDE FOREVER IN HEAVEN REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER .
Jim, you will be missed dearly and will always be in our hearts and minds. Always with a smile and cracking jokes. I know you are in a better place now and just please watch over us.
Jimmy, my brother, words cannot say how much iwill miss you. Your time on earth was to short. I know you will now watch over us. Keeping us all safe. We will keep you in our hearts for ever.
Jim, even though i did not get the chance to spend alot of time with you . May you rest in peace and i know you are now in a better place. Your greatly missed by all, always be in our thoughts and prayers.
Jimmy, my law enforcement and Ruff Ruder brother. We will always miss you. RIP my brother
My dear friend Jimmy the greek. Im speechless!..My true friend who was always there for me. I will remember you always as one the best things that life has to offer. My pal I will miss you dearly and so will our trio of festivous!!!. But I know, that someday, I will see you again. Rest in Peace
Jim, I have known you for what seems like forever. From the days at Duane’s house all the way to Charlies wedding ride with the club last sunday. I will treasure the times we got to spend together. I wil miss you dearly.
There are no words I can use to describe what a great person you are, and how lucky I was to be your friend.
We will mis you, I will miss you…
Jim, my high school sweetheart and so much more. We shared a lot of good times and I will cherish those memories always. There aren’t enough words to describe what an amazing person you were and how much you will be missed. I am comforted knowing that you are with your mom now. You will always be in my heart.
To the Gerakines family who were like family to me for so long, you are in my thoughts and prayers. If there is anything I can do for you, now or ever, do not hesitate to ask.
Rest in Peace Jim~
Jim, I already miss you and will always remember you as my Jimmy”son”. I so loved working with and knowing you. You were like a second son to me and I will forever cherish my memories of you.
Rest in Peace, Jim you will be in my heart forever
Jimmy was there for me when the worst day of my life came. The shooting may have taken my job, but will never take the professionalism, not to memtion compassion you showed me in my darkest hours. I only wish we could have worked together longer. God in heaven has got a True Blue Cop now. Rest In Peace Officer Gerakines. I will never forget you.
Jimmy you have touched so many hearts. You knew how to put a smile on people’s faces and make them laugh. Though I did not work with you for long you made a great impact on me; someone i would envy and look up to for all your accomplishments. You will be missed deeply.
We didn’t know each other long but you quickly become a friend and a brother. You will be deeply missed!!!
Rest in Peace.
Ruff Ryders….. YOU KNOW!!!!
ONE BROTHER THAT LEFT US TO EARLY!!! IN THE TIME I’VE KNOW JIMMY HE BECAME A GREAT BROTHER! WE HAD BIG PLANS! HE WAS A EASY GOING, WARM HEARTED QUIT MAN! BUT HE WAS GREAT ON THE COMPUTER AND MOVIE MAKING! WE BECAME CLOSE FAST AND IT SUCKS THAT HE WAS TAKEN FROM US! I HOPE YOU WILL STUNT FOR THE HEAVENS! YOU WILL BE MISSED BY ALL! LOVE YA BROTHER AND U WILL ALWAYS RIDE WITH ME IN MY HEART!!!! MAY YOU REST IN PEACE BROTHER!!
Jimmy you will be missed by all of those that knew you and we will never forget you. You always knew how to make me smile. I know your watching over us now and keeping us all safe brother. Rest In Peace bro. RUFF RYDERS YOU KNOW!!!
Jimmy, I couldn’t believe it when I received the call. I will miss you dearly, my fellow law enforcement brother and rider. I will definitely miss those rides to Laconia. Rest in Peace Jimmy.
i really did not know you to well but as a fellow rider and former R.R. I will pray for you and your family. Rest In Peace Jimmy.
May you rest in peace. Now your Gods Sgt@Arms to watch over the rest. Bless you and your family
Bee-Bee V.P
Lower East Side Ruff Ryders
New York
Jimmy you will always be missed and remembered. My condolences to his family. R.I.P Jimmy
I never got to meet Jimmy but I’m sure he was a good guy, friend, father, brother and the son. Dbl R family is goin to miss him. From the Central Mass Ruff Ruffer Auto Club we send our deepest sympathy the Family and NSRR. R I P, jimmy!!!! RUFF RYDERS!!! RUFF RYDERS!!! U KNO!!
Bigg Sexy
P.R.O\TREASURER
MAY YOU REST IN PEACE, MY BROTHER. MY CONDOLENCES TO YOUR FAMILY. YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT GOD KNOWS BEST.
YOYO (SGT. AT ARMS)
RUFF RYDER ROLLERS- LAKE COUNTY CHAPTER
CHICAGO IL.
Jim: I did not want to beleive the call I got from Ann. You were greatly missed when you left us. You were a gentleman and an awsome officer who will now be missed by all of us in law enforcement. Dale was right when he said. God has a TRUE BLUE COP now. Rest in peace Jim.
Greek – I can’t even put into words the sense of loss I feel right now. SPD was never the same after you left and the world will never be the same without you either. I used to be so excited to come to work on the days you would be there, never a dull moment with you that’s for sure. Your crazy funny pictues and videos never failed to bring laughter into the dept. I loved you from the minute I met you. You were a true cherished friend and I will miss you forever. RIP Jimmy the Greek
Dear Jim, I am speechless ..I just talked to you Monday night…and now your at rest. I will never forget some of the memories we shared, I am lucky to have found a friend like you…and I still seeing us laughing from the joke wedding we went too…You will never be forgotten RIP Love, Dena
My deepest sympathy to the Gerakines family. I have had the priviledge of not only having worked with Jimmy “The Greek”, but also being his friend. He had a heart of gold and a great sense of humor. Many a picture of myself was ‘doctored’ by Jimmy’s artistic ability and warped sense of humor. Although, I really liked the picture he made of Jennifer Aniston and I on the beach in the Bahamas! He would greet me at the start of our shift with hot baked chocolate chip cookies he just took out of the oven. We would eat them all day. I will miss you my friend, rest in peace.
Jim,
It was an honor being appointed to the NRPD with you. Over the last year we became friends, and whenever I needed to talk about something I knew I could call you and we would have some laughs. My sincerest condolences to your family. Rest in peace brother..
I was deeply saddened to hear the loss of “Jimmy”! Although we never really new each other he will be sadly missed! My thoughts & heartfelt condolences to the North Shore Chapter as well as to Jimmy’s Family & friends!
“Our loss is Heavens Gain”
A-ROD
Ma. State Rep
Ruff Ryders
My deepest sympathy to the Gerakines family. Losing a beloved family member is one of the hardest thing to go through. May God watch over you and your family in your time of need. You’re in our prayers. R.I.P Jimmy. May you sit by Gods side and find the ultimate ride in heaven with a never ending road.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy, but from what I have heard and read in these comments, he was a wonderful person that will be missed by many. My sympathies to his family and friends. R.I.P Jimmy.
Jim, I could not have asked for a better Prom King! You were a great friend, a great love to one of my best friends, and a great person all around. You will be missed greatly by many people that love you and admire you. I know that your mom welcomed you with open arms and I am glad that you are with her again. My prayers are with your family. I know that you will be watching over them and protecting them. They will always feel your love. Rest in peace, Jim.
Jim, You will be missed. My sympathies to his family and friends. Rest in peace my friend.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim, his family, and his extended group of friends and Ruff Ryder Family. May God bless you with the strength you need to get through these hard times.
To Jim…. See you in Heaven brother!
Jim – I am not sure that I even believe what has happened..or that I am writing this.
I saw you just a few days ago and you were your amazing, smiling self. I could write pages of what I feel but you know.
You were always better at expressing yourself than me..You were an amazing person to my family and my kids adored you. You were my rock and constant support. Our amazing connection and great times will forever be with me. I know you are in a beautiful, peaceful place with your mom.I will miss you beyond what can be written..
Love, Traci
The members of Relentless MC would like to offer our deepest condolences on the loss of your friend and family member. 2 wheels, 1 love.
My condolences on the loss of a family member and a friend of the dbl r. U will be missed. R.I.P.
I am saddened to hear of Jim’s sudden death. My heart goes out to the Gerakines family with whom I spent so many years at Hood School.
Jimmy,
The last time I talked to you, you were happy, full of life and excited for the future and that is how I will remember you. You made me laugh so hard that I cried. I only knew you a short time and I truly wish I had more time with youl.
My brother in law enforcement, my friend, you will be greatly missed.
Jim, I can’t believe you are gone. It seems like yesterday I recieved a text at 0-dark thirty to ask if I was working. You were a great friend and will be deeply missed. I wished you could have joine us here at the State level. RIP, you are at rest now. To the Gerakines family-my prayers are with you and your family.
Jimmy, you were an amazing friend with a huge heart and you will be missed more than you know. I keep looking at the pictures you took at my house of little Sophie and me, half laughing and half crying…it wasn’t that long ago and I feel like you’re still just a phone call away. We had our ups and our downs, but know that I’ll pray for you every day and please do the same for me. I hope you’re resting peacefully and pray that one day we’ll see each other again. Love, Christina
jimmy…i remember meeting u just a few years ago on our weekly rides to lowell for bike night….through out time we became good friends and had alot of good times and laughs together….denise even though not knowing u that long remembers u as a good friend who always made a point to come over and say hi to her at partys and events which really ment alot to her….u will be missed dearly by both of us… may u rest in peace brother
hunter
north shore ruff ryders
Our deepest condolences goes out to Jimmy’s family and to all the North Shore Ruff Ryders for thier loss. As God welcomes you with open arms and recieves another Angel and we know you will still be riding by our side. May God bless you, your family and friends
Josebusa NH Ruff Ryders VP
Jessy NH Event Coord.
Jim in the short time we have know eachother I consider it an honor to call you a brother. May you rest in peace, watch over the ones who are close to you. To the Gerakines family I am so sorry for you loss.
Although I did not know you personally, we lived and dreamed the same dreams riding and living on two wheels. It was with the deepest sympathy my wife and 1st Lady send our thoughts and prayers to your family. We know that you have entered the Pearly Gates and God has accepted you with open arms to take his side to patrol the heavens. Ride in Peace my friend!
We would like to give our deepest sympathy to the Gerakines Family & the NSRR Family for thier great loss. You are in our Prayers. 2 wheels, 1 love.
Twisted Souls M/C
On behalf of “G” Rider MC, we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family & ridah friends of Jimmy. Losing one effects the whole ridah community. May God bring you peace in your time of sorrow.
Precious, VPrez
“G” Rider MC, Dallas TX
MY deepest Condolences is given to the Greakins Family. I am dearly sadden by his lost, While I only knew Jim a short time, I will remember him as my brother. Your family are in my prayers as we all try to get past these diffiacult days ahead. Jim you will be missed !!!!
On behalf of Devils in Disguise MC BX we would like to send our deepest condolences to Jimmy’s Family and to the North Shore Ruff Ryders. We will keep you in our prayers and thoughts.
God Bless
BigD VP of Devils in Disguise MC BX