Jerome M. Socha

Jerome M. Socha unceremoniously left us on September 17, 2023. He was only 66 years old. Originally from Mt. Carmel, PA, Jerome was currently living in Upper Darby, PA. Having tolerated a defective heart for 66 years, it finally betrayed him. Especially sad are his sister Dianne Kaplan and brother-in-law Michael Kaplan of Delray Beach, FL, who shared some fun times at the Margate, NJ beach house with him.

Jerry was nothing but fun and humility. His many successes in professional achievements and his extraordinary musical talent were accepted with graciousness and often stunned surprise!

After graduating from Bloomsburg University, Jerry went on to work as a chemist in the scientific clinical and research community beginning with Smith Kline Clinical Toxicology Labs, Wyeth, Rhone Poulenc-Rorer, Discovery Labs, Merck, and finally retiring from Glaxo Smith-Kline in 2017. He developed many original methodologies for procedures involving formulation and testing of new drugs.

Jerry never married, but he enjoyed the companionship of many friends and relatives during his lifetime. They will miss his quick wit and ability to elicit laughter, as evidenced by the Palisano family, who adopted him as one of their own. 

Growing up, he possessed a passion for music, especially guitar. When Jerry was no more than 10 years old, he and friend Paul Cort self-tuned toy guitars and proceeded to entertain the many patrons of bars in Mt. Carmel, PA on and around Halloween. Jerry and Paul would walk from bar to bar, accepting tips from the patrons. They often arrived home in the evenings with more than $25 apiece each night! As 10-year-olds!

 Friends Mary and Joe Cerrone relate that they felt Jerry truly “listened” when you engaged him in conversation. Brother-in-law Mickey always said that he never met anyone else who could make you feel as special as you did when spending time with Jerry. This legacy will live long after his passing. Jerry could make you laugh and see the absurdity in many situations.

Dr. Joy Miksic, one of Jerry’s bosses, relates how Jerry was a model employee. Whenever you needed an article or method, Jerry always had the documentation, knew where it was filed, and made sure everyone had a copy.

Neighbors in Upper Darby will sorely miss Jerry’s friendship, his willingness to clean their sidewalks and cars after snowstorms and to befriend the neighborhood children who called him “Mr. Jerry”. Mr. Jerry planted flowers in his postage-stamp-size front lawn and bought flats of flowers for the children to plant in their own front yards. These same children, now young adults, cried with Jerry’s family for the loss of a true friend.

After his retirement from Glaxo Smith-Kline, he returned to his childhood and teenage passion for music and resumed his expertise in playing his 12-string guitar. Jerry has a YouTube channel featuring cover songs and original music, including his COVID song, which features friends and colleagues Debbie and Hank Engal. His YouTube channel can be found at www.youtube.com/@jerrysochasmusicalarchives6824.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be scheduled in the future, likely in the spring of 2024. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation online at udfoundation.org or by mail to 1051 Pontiac Road #7, Drexel Hill, PA 19026. This organization provides musical education and artistic experiences to children who would normally not be able to afford this opportunity. Donations may also be made to the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (pmayartists.org), another organization that provides music education to children.