Gerald

Akridge

Gerald Thomas Akridge was born in Camden, NJ on
July 18,1953. His family later moved to Englewood,
NJ where he resided until his untimely demise.
At 5 years old he started at Lincoln School and Dr.
Leroy McLeod became his role model at that young
age. Gerald graduated from Dwight Morrow High
School in 1971 and was a retired 35 year Boys'
Basketball Coach. He began coaching in 1976 at the
Englewood Community House. He spent eight years
as an assistant at Bergen Tech, Ridgefi eld Park, and
Englewood. Gerald started his Varsity coaching career
at Ridgefi eld Park High School where he coached for
six years. At Ridgefi eld Park, he made one Jamboree appearance, one State
appearance and one Christmas Tournament Championship. Gerald returned to
his Alma Mata, Dwight Morrow High School, and coached 14 seasons with an
overall Raider team record of 296 - 119. His overall record is 333-218. His tenure
at D.M.H.S. includes nine (9) League Championships and a B.C.S.L. American
overall record of 172 - 26, the best in league history.
Coach Akridge has also accomplished one Christmas Tournament Championship
(Indian Hills), one Bergen County Championship, eight (8) North 1, Group il,
State Sectional Championships, six (6) Bergen County Semi-Final appearances,
two (2) Group Il State Final appearances, and seven (7) Bergen County Team
of the Year Awards.
Gerald was a disciplinarian at D.M.H.S, and a graduate of Ramapo College, and
the fi rst one thousand point scorer in that school's history. He was elected to
Ramapo College's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 and as inducted in the NUSIAA
Coach's Hall of Fame in 2011. He has the most wins in the history of Dwight
Morrow High School.
Gerald has written articles for American Quarterly Basketball, a national magazine
for college and high school coaches across America. He has contributed to the
Bergen County Coaches Association and spoke on "NorthJerseySports.com—
The Ballgame" and has produced over 20 college graduates.
He preceded in death his parents Glendola Akridge and Washington Thomas
(W.T) Akridge; wife; Terry Akridge and sister Sheila Akridge-Wynn.
He leaves to cherish precious moments: his son, Gerald Thomas Akridge
Jr.; granddaughter Giselle Amerie Akridge; his Daughter Ramona Akridge;
granddaughter Kyla-Mechelle Petty and Kaylen-Maree Petty; grandsons; Romir
Persaud, Krishna Persaud and Rohan Persaud; brother, Brian Akridge; sister,
Stephany Akridge and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.