Jerome J. Harcar

March 10, 1956 - April 19, 2020

WEST TRENTON -- Jerome J. Harcar passed from this life at home Sunday, April 19, 2020, with his wife by his side. He was 64 and had been under treatment for cancer for four tough months.

Born in Trenton, to Tom and Olive (nee Connelly) Harcar, Jerry completed 12 years of Catholic school education, beginning at St. Raphael’s. At St. Anthony’s High School, he played clarinet in the band and had fond memories of the various performance trips. He also ran the half mile for the track team.

He attended Mercer County Community College, where he studied architecture and first met David Collier. Professor Collier ignited Jerry’s interest in historic preservation when they undertook the first restoration work at the Eagle Tavern, as members of the Trenton Historical Society. He continued his studies at Roger Williams College in Rhode Island, graduating with a degree in Historic Preservation. After college, Jerry went to work for the N.J. Department of Transportation, where he worked to determine and document significant cultural resources impacted by road and bridge projects throughout the state.

When the City of Trenton posted an opening for a preservationist, Jerry felt it had his name on it. He served as the City of Trenton’s Preservation Specialist for over two decades, all the while serving on the Trenton Historical Society’s board of directors. Saving, protecting and preserving buildings was his job, but his vocation was saving and protecting city history.

His role as staff to the Landmarks Commission for Historic Preservation made him a public figure, the go-to person on historical projects in Trenton. He reviewed and commented on countless master plans, development plans and individual site plans; worked to create the city’s eight historic districts, shepherd them through growing pains and monitor their progress; initiated and oversaw professional surveys of historic buildings in all four wards of the city.

His advocacy for ongoing professional work on city-owned historic bridges and buildings resulted in studies he turned into capital requests over decades of stewardship of the Douglass House, Ellarslie, the Eagle Tavern and Trent House. He understood the importance to city history of cemeteries, meeting houses and churches and was a sustaining presence to their boards. His deep knowledge of the city’s existing buildings and their history, coupled with a self-effacing nature, made him the ideal source for politicians and preservationists alike. He was always willing to help those who wanted to renovate, reuse or restore buildings.

He made it his business to explain to those less history-minded that the historic pictures, records, books and papers they possessed but didn’t value belonged in the Trentoniana Local History Collection of the Trenton Free Public Library, and he got Trentoniana’s curator into dozens of abandoned and endangered properties to salvage documents and ephemera. At the Historical Society, he was the backbone of Restore Trenton!, a grant program begun in 2007 to aid city homeowners with exterior restoration projects.  He was the chief reviewer of applications for their adherence to historic preservation standards and the chief inspector of the finished work, resulting in $147,800 for repair or restoration granted to homeowners of 76 properties.

Not particularly interested in receiving recognition, he focused on results ~ whether using his eye for color palettes to help a homeowner with a paint job, or prodding others to take note of a deteriorating building. He was a tireless advocate for the potential, reality and promise of Trenton.

Jerry loved all sports but especially Ultimate Frisbee. He and a group of close friends formed the Mudsharks Frisbee Club in 1976 and he continued to play with the team for the next 30-plus years. Needing a deeper pool of teams to compete against at the time, he helped co-found the Mercer County Ultimate Frisbee League in 1977. When he wasn’t at work or playing Ultimate Frisbee, Jerry enjoyed fixing up his own old houses or, better yet, hanging on LBI with family and friends.  He was a master trip planner and he and Eileen enjoyed many wonderful vacations together. He will be remembered for his warm smile, big comforting hugs and soft hands among other things.

Jerry retired from the City in 2010 but continued his efforts as a consultant, and with the Trenton Historical Society. He was a member, also, of the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.

Preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by, and will be sorely missed by his wife, Eileen; daughter, Jamie; granddaughter, Scout; brother, Tom (Irene); and many aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, the Mudshark family and friends.

A memorial service will take place once it’s safe for his family and friends to gather in celebration of his life.

Arrangements are by the Brenna Funeral Home, Immordino Chapel 1799 Klockner Road Hamilton, NJ 08619.

To send condolences to the family, please visit www.brennafuneralhome.com

To fund ongoing Trenton preservation work in Jerry's memory, donations should be directed to the Preservation Committee, Trenton Historical Society, P.O. Box 1112, Trenton, N.J. 08606.