Jeffery F. Pierfy was born in Easton, Pa., and lived in Alpha, N. J. as a child. He graduated from Rider University, Lawrenceville, with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism.
He began his professional career as an educator and taught English at Phillipsburg Catholic High School, where he also coached varsity baseball and junior varsity basketball.
Later, he was a director of public relations and advertising at General Dynamics, Avenel. He returned to Rider University and served as the director of Alumni Programs and finished as assistant vice president of development upon his departure 23 years later.
In 1991, he was ordained a permanent deacon by Bishop John C. Reiss in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and was assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton.
From 1991 to 2006, Deacon Pierfy was employed by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, serving four years as executive director of foundation and 11 years as director of pastoral care.
During that time, he was certified as a chaplain through the Association of Catholic Chaplains and instructed second year candidates in the diocesan diaconate formation program in the area of pastoral care.
In 2006, he retired to Florence, S.C., where he served in St. Anthony Parish. He was also involved as Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and was a volunteer chaplain at McLeod Medical Center.
Deacon Pierfy returned to NJ and Hamilton Township in 2012 and resumed his role as a deacon Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish. He currently volunteers as a chaplainint St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, and is also a volunteer on-call chaplain at RWJ University Hospital at Hamilton/RWJ Barnabas Health.
Deacon Pierfy was a Rotarian for 36 years and is a past president of the Hamilton Rotary Club. He is the past president of the Children’s Home Society of NJ, past chairman of the Hamilton Ecumenical Fellowship, past board member of the Sister Georgine Learning Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Trenton and the Interfaith Caregivers of Trenton. He currently serves on the board for the Delaware Valley School for Exceptional Children.
Over the years, Deacon Pierfy has received several recognitions, including: Hamilton Jaycees Citizen of the Year in 1995, Hamilton Rotary NJ Vocational Service Award in 1997, and the Rider University Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Hamilton Rotary Club. In 2009, the chapel at RWJ was named in his honor.
Deacon Jeffery Pierfy and his wife, Jean, are parents to two daughters: Traci Richardson and Kelli Pierfy. They have three grandchildren.