The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-06
Coney Island Death of "Jerry" Dill lane Recalls Old Excursions Run
 by "Tabs".
BY THE OUT EASTER


 Old days of St. Joseph's annual excursion to Coney Island must have been revived at the recent announcement that Jeremiah J. Dillane of 37 Summer street was dead. Like the other leaders of the organization, he played a promi- nent part in the arrangements for this yearly affair.
 You will recall that the tickets sold for $50; that you first took a train to Bridgeport, and then boarded the so-described beautiful steamer, Sirius" for a ride down the Sound to the favorite Long Island resort. But the steamer wasn't really beautiful" at all; it had been in use so many years that people who knew its real his- tory wondered that it was able to paddle along so we'll Eventually, after sail of several hours, the party arrived, and then returned to Bridgeport in time to get home before daybreak the next day. No one would take such a chance to- day; still, the hundreds of patrons seemed unafraid, and enjoyed themselves from beginning to end. Everybody carried 8 shoe box full of lunch; families of grownups and children went along, rising early to make the train that always got an early start.
 We can recall the hurried move ments of the ones in charge, such as the late J. J. Mcdonald, Jim Freney, Mike Carney, Larry Ryan, Jerry Dillane, and others who made up the leading members of the association. Tickets sold like "hot cakes" If you hesitated, fear ful of the weather conditions, you could always get ticket the night before at the club house on East Main street. Two and three trains of ten coaches each had to be used to transport the crowd out of Waterbury and back again.
 The excursion was held each year in the month of August. We had few automobiles then, and when people left the city they had to travel by train or trolley car. Factory people got no annual va 7 cation. Walnut Beach had just opened and people went there now and then, but the vast majority of people of the city spent their sum- mers at home. Why, then shouldn't they take advantage of an eXcur- sion managed by a crowd of tenn perance leaders and workers? What a happy and contented lot of people. Laughter and good fel- lowship prevailed during the entire trip. No matter what occurred that might temporarily interfere with the outing. there was no grumbling They were tired, but good natured lot when they ar rived home. Why, St. Joseph's an- nual excursion was the talk of the town for weeks afterwards. Those who missed it this year, were around with the others the follow ing year.
 As we have outlined, no one took more interest in the success of the affair than did Jerry Dillane. He was available to all, and answered the thousands of questions put to him in a manner that satisfied ev- cry member of the big party. When children got lost on the train or boat, Jerry found them; when some of the people lost their tic- kets, Jerry vouched for them; when people got hungry, it was Jerry who saw to it that they got something to eat.
 Jerry Dillane was a North Finder all of his life. He was plasterer and followed his trade from boy hood. Never known to offend, he gained the friendship and good will of every member of the old ''Tabs" as well as the ones who worked with him daily. There was something in his makeup that drew you to him. He talked but little, and then only in a low tone. There was no bluster or a waving of the hands when he ad- dressed you; there was just that appeal that made you welcome his company in any conversation that followed.
 The old North End won't seem just the same without him. When ever work of the clustering kind was called for, it seemed that no one suited the family of the North End or Old Out East better than Jerry Dillane. He gave of his hire all that was in him, and the peo- pie he worked for appeared pleased and satisfied with his ef- forts.
 Funny, that good men like him must go the way of all when it would seem as though life should be extended for at least another decade or so.