THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
Orlando, Florida
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 

JEROME PEYTON MCCAULEY 

At eighty-one (81), Jerome Peyton McCauley passed away on July 7th, 2021. He was born on February 10th, 1940 and had played football at Mainland High School (in Daytona), JV football at UM, pledged SAE, was an SAE there, and (in Orlando) was active in the local SAE Alumni Association. Jerome's parents having passed, he was very close to his Aunt and Uncle (Jerome's Mother's sister), both of whom died recently (at over age 90). Though he had been a "picture of health," the only one present at Jerome's passing was his beloved female dog, a black Lab named "Dakota."

Jerome completed his education at Jacksonville University and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He began his career with Tornwall, Lang, & Lee and with Arthur Young (the author does not recall which came first). After his leaving, the latter merged with Ernest to become Ernest & Young. Somewhere along the line, Jerome ended up in Orlando. With Tornwall, he once told the story of the receptionist, who was once flustered with so many calls, she answered the phone "Ting, a ling, a ling!" Jerome did not say whether afterwards she was allowed to keep her job.

Jerome then went out on his own. As one of his initial jobs, he was the late former Mayor Carl Langford's campaign treasurer. Jerome once commented upon Mayor Langford's "photographic memory"! While he witnessed him, Mayor Langford (who was running for re-election) stood at the entrance to a hotel banquet room, was introduced to everyone in the room, and later stood at the exit and recalled everyone's name. That's impressive! My recollection is afterwards, all Jerome got for being Treasurer was a "gold colored" telephone. While on his own, Jerome's office was initially in the Kroger Center (behind Fashion Square Mall.) At a now defunct restaurant (on McGuire Boulevard) and an SAE luncheon (the author's Mom Marshall, encouraged her son to attend), S. (Stewart) A. (Andy) Marshall III met Jerome. At the time, Jerome was 36 or 37. They turned out to be lifelong friends. Some even accused them of being brother's (though Stewart never claimed such!). Subsequently, after Stew's move from Park Avenue in Winter Park, Jerome moved into Stew's old office. Stewart was then a young attorney just starting out and was leaving to join Jim Moreland and Jim Cunningham, later as a named partner with Jim Moreland and Hugh Palmer (named, Moreland, Palmer & Marshall). 

About two years later, as an estate planning and administration attorney, in downtown Orlando Stewart was talked (by Rick Hurt and Steve Salley) into joining the law firm of Akerman, LLP (then Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson). The late Charlie Shuffield had just left to open his own firm. When asked "stupidly" where they were about five years ago when he really needed them, Steve quipped, "we wouldn't have been interested in you then. You did not have a book of business to bring with you." Stewart hopes they were not too disappointed, as not much was brought.

At Stew's behest, Jerome started doing estate income tax returns, estate tax returns, and (where, due to their small size, banks did not want to become involved) became a trustee. Later, he also worked with Lee Blalock (at SunTrust), a former CPA. In addition to his regular work, in this area, he developed a considerable practice. 

Jerome was a true friend. Soon after meeting, in Jacksonville, Stew attended Jerome's mother's funeral. Several years later, after Stew's Dad died, Jerome came over and again (about 25 years later) when his Mom died (at 92!). Incidentally, now retired, Cecil Wilson, who was past president of both the AMA and World Medical Association, was her Doctor. Dad was between 12 and 13 years older than Mom, died at seventy-eight (78), and had a different doctor! She often said Jerome was like her second son – very attentive. On Howard Drive in Winter Park, with his late wife, Linda, and his then dog, Gabe, Jerome once lived two houses down from Mom. Soon after, in the springtime (and not knowing any better), Jerome once trimmed his Azalea bushes. Mom (in her southern accent) threatened jokingly to "kill" Jerome. After Jerome's son's retirement (from the U.S. Navy as a Seal Instructor), with Blackrock in Iraq, his son took a job as a security guard. But soon after a telephone call to his Dad, lamenting the fact they were directed politically to use the same route daily into the "Green Zone," Jerome, Jr. was assassinated. 

Memorial gifts may be made to: The Navy Seal Foundation, The Lighthouse of Central Florida (both of whom Jerome named in his Trust), or The First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, Florida. Jerome's Memorial Service and Interment will be held there on August 27th, 2021, at 2:00 PM with Reverend Craig Blocher, officiating.