Gerald A. Nearon

Born in Philadelphia on June 1st, 1928, he was the son of the late Abraham and Sylvia (Smukler) Nearon. They were Jewish immigrants to the United States and Abe built a successful family business, Loombest Fabrics. Jerry grew up in Brooklyn, and often spoke of a happy childhood, with doting parents and younger sister, Phyllis. He loved his mother’s cooking, the Brooklyn Dodgers, spending summers at camp, and spending time with his extended family. As an adult, he played golf most Sundays with his father, and passed his love of golf to his wife.

He graduated from James Madison High School in 1946, and attended Brooklyn College where he majored in business. He enlisted in the army in 1950 during the Korean War. He then joined the family business.

In 1955, he met Marilyn Bloom at a dance while out with a friend. She was struck by how much of a gentleman he was. After a short engagement, they married in December, and had three daughters, Robin, Peri, and Jill, who died in infancy. They lived in Lakewood, NJ, while he commuted into NYC for work, eventually taking over his father’s business. His next venture was as an owner of B & F Vending, and he finished his career at the Ocean County Health Department, retiring at age 81.

He was a man of few words, but was always listening. When he talked to you, he made you feel important and heard. His children and grandchildren were comforted by his peaceful, calm, and wise presence. While life certainly threw him some challenges, he was remarkably lucky—and he knew it. Every username and password he ever made had “luck” or “lucky” in it. At his 90thbirthday party he said he had “no regrets.”

Along with his wife Marilyn of Princeton, NJ, he is survived by his daughters Peri of Lawrenceville, NJ, Robin of Montgomery Village, MD, granddaughters Paige Nicole Baskwill (Jeff) of Mont Clare, PA, and Beth Wiederspiel of Ithaca, NY, grandson Alex Wiederspiel (Brittany) of Fairmont, WV, great-granddaughter Catherine of Mont Clare, PA, sister Phyllis Janklow and brother-in-law Alvin, of San Mateo, California, sister-in-laws Judie Singer of Lakewood, NJ and Sandy Kimmelman of North Jersey and several loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Services will be held on Friday, December 22nd, at 1 PM at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapel in Ocean Township, NJ led by Rabbi David Amar of Congregation Ahavat Olam. Light refreshments in the Bloomfield-Cooper Catering hall following the service.