Jerome Arthur “Jerry” Gertner Obituary

Jerome Arthur “Jerry” Gertner

Jerome Arthur “Jerry” Gertner, 88, surrounded by his sons and family, with Billie Holiday in the background, held court for the final time on December 28 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA, after a sudden but prolonged non-covid hospitalization. The son of former Lakewood Mayor Michael & Teresa Gertner, a 1951 Lakewood High graduate, after a brief college stint, he was recruited by Tuskegee Airman George Watson, Sr., to ultimately serve as an Air Traffic Controller in the Air Force, spending time in the Alaska territory, where he played basketball on a roster of elite former college athletes, allowing the diminutive point guard to travel throughout the country playing other service teams and learning to fly-fish at remote maneuver operations sites. After honorably serving his country, he returned to Rutgers because “that’s what Coach Hill expected me to do,” crediting his Lakewood basketball coach with pushing him to excel. With military discipline, he soared with his schoolwork while playing quarterback for the Scarlet Knights’ 150-pound football team and playing on the Rutgers Golf Team. Upon graduation in 1959, he matriculated at the University of Virginia Law School, graduating with his B. Laws. in 1962, Thereafter, he worked first with his Uncle Henry and thereafter Judge Mark Addison. On New Year’s Eve 1963, he met Lois Trachtenberg as a blind date, became engaged on Valentine’s Day, and married a few months later. Ultimately, he served as Lakewood’s Municipal Judge from 1978-2000. Judge Gertner inherited a strong sense of public service and worked tirelessly in his community. He enjoyed pancake breakfasts with the Kiwanis, was a referee for Biddy Basketball, assisted with the Lakewood Pop Warner program, was a loyal Freemason and Shriner, and served as President of the Lakewood Board of Education. He marched with the Jewish War Veterans, serving as State Commander in 1973, where he was part of the first American delegation to visit Israel after the Yom Kippur War. He was honored to serve as President of the American Judges Association in 1989, and during his career, he assisted several local religious organizations while also serving as a founder of OMEGA 13 and O.C.E.A.N. Inc. His service earned him recognition as Lakewood’s Citizen of the Year in 2002. He was often found flying over Lakewood in his Piper Cherokee, driving his red Fiat Spider convertible, or at Blue Claws games. He enjoyed their trips to St. Maarten and golf. Bleeding Piner Blue, he was a mainstay at Lakewood sports events, and in later years enjoyed watching his grandchildren compete. He and Lois loved to travel, taking countless voyages including an extended crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. He loved chewing on his cigars and knew the best fishing holes on Lake Carasaljo as well as the best tables in Atlantic City and elsewhere.

Of most import, though, he considered himself a lucky man, grounded as the grandson of a baker. His presence will be missed by all whose lives he touched. He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Lois in 2016, and is survived by his sons & spouses, Sean (Marla) Gertner of Jackson, Dr. Eric (Debbie) Gertner of Macungie PA, Mitchel (Ilana) Gertner of Howell, and Heath Gertner of Jackson, NJ as well as his grandchildren Matthew, Ryan, Eva, Max, and Moriah. He is also survived by his sister Sheila (Dr. Larry) Saltzbart of Martinsville, NJ, uncle Norman (Charlene) of Lakewood, brothers in law Sam Trachtenberg of Pinehurst NC & Irving (Ellen) Trachtenberg of Lexington, KY, with a special thank you to his later companion Alva Godderz and her niece Bridget Rudzik as well as countless others in Ocean County and beyond. Funeral services were held on Friday, December 31, 2021, at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, with interment at Mount Sinai Cemetery, Lakewood, NJ. Donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, or the American Judges Foundation.

Belkoff-Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Lakewood, NJ was in charge of arrangements. To view the complete obituary, please visit. www.belkoffgoldsteinfuneralchapel.com