Profile Text
Way in 2019, photo by DFree /www.bigstockphoto.com/
Birth Name: Gerard Arthur Way
Place of Birth: Summit, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 9, 1977
Ethnicity: Italian (maternal grandmother), English, Irish, Scottish, German, Welsh, French, possibly other
Gerard Way is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer. He is the lead singer of rock band My Chemical Romance. He also created The Umbrella Academy comic book series.
Gerard is the son of Donna and Donald Way. His brother is musician and actor Mikey Way. Gerard is married to Lyn-Z, the bassist for the band Mindless Self Indulgence. The couple has a daughter.
Gerard is a second cousin of stand-up comedian, martial arts color commentator, and podcast host Joe Rogan . Gerard’s maternal grandmother, Elena Lina Spadone, and Joe’s maternal grandmother, Josephine Mary Spadone, were sisters, the daughters of Savino/Samuel “Sam” Spadone and Genovieve/Genivie/Genieve/Jennie/Genoveffa Annunziata/Anniziata.
Gerard’s paternal grandfather was Jonathan Camp Way (the son of Donald Forbes Way and Martha/Matilda Walkley). Jonathan was born in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and had deep roots in the state. Donald was born in Hartford, the son of Robert Forbes Way and Kate/Katherine Elaine Camp. Martha was born in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, the daughter of Shailer Brooks Walkley and Irene J. Prescott.
Gerard’s paternal grandmother was Ellen Elizabeth Lee (the daughter of Thomas James Lee and Rosanna Johnson). Ellen was born in Bloomfield, Essex, New Jersey. Thomas was born in Bloomfield, and was adopted by English parents, James Lee and Jane. Rosanna was born in New Jersey, the daughter of William Johnson, whose father was English; and of Harriet/Hattie J. Leslie, whose parents were Irish.
Gerard’s maternal grandfather was Arthur Joseph Rush (the son of Robert Wesley Rush and Theresa Agnes “Tessie” Blumenthal). Arthur was born in Newark, Essex, New Jersey. Robert was born in Pennsylvania, the son of British parents, Lewis Rush and Alice Monk, from Monmouthshire, who likely had origins from England and Wales. Gerard’s great-grandmother Theresa was born in New York, or Germany, the daughter of German parents, Charles Blumenthal, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, likely in Illzach, Mulhouse, and Agnes Herzog, who was born in Guben, Prussia. It is not clear if Theresa had Jewish ancestry. Some genealogies state that her paternal grandfather, Joseph Blumenthal, was born in Lithuania.
Gerard’s maternal grandmother was Elena/Helen/Ella Lina/Lee Spadone (the daughter of Savino/Samuel “Sam” Spadone and Genovieve/Genivie/Genieve/Jennie/Genoveffa Annunziata/Anniziata). Elena was born in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, to Italian parents. Savino was from Melfi, Province of Potenza, Basilicata, and was the son of Giovanni Spadone and Lucia Vitelli. Genovieve was from Aquilonia, Province of Avellino, Campania, and her mother’s surname was De Riezo.
Sources: Genealogy of Gerard Way – https://famouskin.com
Genealogy of Gerard Way (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Gerard’s maternal grandfather, Arthur Joseph Rush, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Gerard’s maternal great-grandfather, Robert Wesley Rush, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Gerard’s maternal great-grandmother, Theresa Agnes “Tessie” Blumenthal, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Theresa Agnes “Tessie” Blumenthal on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Gerard’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Charles Blumenthal and Agnes Herzog – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Gerard’s maternal great-great-great-uncle (great-great-grandfather’s brother), Gustave Adolph Blumenthal, a vocational analyst – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Gerard’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Agnes (Herzog) Blumenthal – https://www.familysearch.org
Gerard’s maternal grandmother, Elena/Helen/Ella Lina/Lee Spadone, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org