Nelson and Jerry's Legacy of Love Fund

Of the more than 1,000 named charitable funds that The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is home to, many were established in honor of donors’ loved ones and family members, recognizing their passions, their callings, careers and contributions to their communities.

Erica G. Bradley, Manager of Community Philanthropy at The Foundation, knew she wanted to establish a fund honoring her late father and mother, Nelson and Geraldine “Jerry” Gatison, for their most cherished roles, and the way she knew them best: as loving parents.

“They were too important to not remember forever,” says Bradley.

Every morning in their West Haven home, Nelson and Geraldine “Jerry” Gatison used to read the newspaper and Nelson would complete the crossword. 

This is just one of the small traditions, observed faithfully, that helped shape the larger legacy of love that their daughters Karen and Erica would inherit. “They were just the best,” she said.

Another tradition of theirs was caring for their loved ones and community members. Nelson and Jerry believed that philanthropy is, at its core, a love of humanity, says Bradley.

She established Nelson and Jerry’s Legacy of Love Fund at The Foundation in 2026. The Fund will support causes that improve the lives of African Americans, particularly youth and senior citizens, in the Greater New Haven area.

"This Fund honors the spirit of generosity, loving-kindness, academic excellence and dedication to their family and community,” Bradley wrote in the fund agreement. “Their support for others and dedication to their family were evident, as they consistently helped others while modeling humility, perseverance and strong moral character.”

Nelson and Jerry demonstrated these qualities in their home and broader community. Nelson was a longtime U.S. Postal Service Station Manager, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a member of the Elks Club and the Orange Blossom Social Club. Jerry was a beloved early childcare educator who also earned a degree in the field, often bringing Erica along to classes when she was a young child. “My mother was the epitome of kindness and grace.”

Nelson and Jerry were both faithful members of St. Paul U.A.M.E. Church in New Haven.

In many ways – both explicitly and through the ways they lived their lives – Nelson and Jerry also taught Karen and Erica about racism, how to recognize and counter it, and to continue to pursue their own happiness and potential.

“They have been dispelling the lie of white superiority and Black inferiority my entire life,” said Bradley.

When the Gatisons moved to West Haven in the early 1960s, they were the first Black family in their neighborhood. “It didn’t matter that we weren’t welcome,” said Bradley. “We were taught that we were exceptional, and we were supposed to show up exceptional – and when I meet you, my assumption is that you're exceptional too.”

Bradley recalls a childhood steeped in Black culture, and kitchen table conversation that never shied away from talking about race. “My father's favorite expression is, ‘Your quest for knowledge should never cease,” Bradley recalled.

“When we started this work on The Vineyard Project in New Haven, and started talking about narrative change and Black excellence, I realized I have to do this fund about the very definition of Black excellence to me: Nelson and Jerry,” she said.

“People 100 years from now have to know that these two amazing souls were here.”