Gerald “Jerry” S. Isaacson passed away on July 20, 2022. During his 95 years, Jerry touched countless lives through his work and community service. He is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who served his country in two wars.
Jerry was born in St. Augustine, Florida, on January 30, 1927, the only child of Albert and Mildred Isaacson. After moving to Illinois, he grew up in south Chicago during the Great Depression. At age 17, with the written permission of his parents, he enlisted in the army in 1944 during WWII. He was ultimately promoted to Staff Sergeant and served in Yokohama during the occupation of Japan.
Upon returning to the states, he enrolled, through the GI Bill, at Knox College, graduating in 1950 with a B.A. in Business Administration. It was at Knox that he met his beloved wife of 69 years, Ann Suitts, impressing her in the school library with his stories of Japan. While in college, Jerry joined the ROTC, and was president of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity- the first of many leadership positions he would hold throughout his life.
Jerry and Ann married in 1950 and he started his long career in education publishing. As a salesman for Harcourt Brace for the midwest region, Jerry was on the road five days a week. But his career was interrupted by the Korean War, in which he served his second stint in the US Army. Promoted to First Lieutenant, he received the Bronze Star for coordinating artillery fire in close support of ground troops during battle. Typical of his generation, Jerry rarely talked about his experience in war, and simply insisted that he was doing what was expected and necessary.
After serving two years, Jerry returned home, resumed his career in publishing and, with Ann, raised a family that would grow to five children. His career trajectory quickly accelerated, becoming vice president at Silver Burdett, president of the School Division of Macmillan, president of Xerox Education Publications, senior vice president and group executive at Esquire. After exiting the corporate world, Jerry opened the Stamford branch of the Huntington Learning Center. Jerry maintained his passion for education into his 80’s, teaching English as a second language to adults.
Along the way, Jerry developed a life-long love of sailing. Whether it was learning to sail on Lake Michigan, racing small boats on the Connecticut River, or long-distance cruises on Long Island Sound and the Atlantic, Jerry was always happiest while on the water. He served as Commodore of the Riverside Yacht club, overseeing a major expansion of the marina.
Jerry was active in local and state politics, serving on the Greenwich Republican Town Committee and heading the budget committee. Jerry, along with his wife Ann, were named Greenwich Volunteers of the Year in 2010. He was a dedicated member of the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, where he served as a Deacon for four years. Jerry and Ann moved to Edgehill in 2011, where he published the newsletter for two years, and became Resident Council President.
Jerry is survived by his five children, Jill (Dan Fleisch) Gianola, Todd (Janet), Kurt (Lynn), Meg (Dave Wannemacher), and Peter (Stacey Geis). Our family also hosted Marina Prati, an American Field Service student from Reggio Emilia, Italy, whom Jerry fondly called his “Italian daughter.” Jerry also boasted 11 grandchildren: Magda, Daniel (Annie), Beth (Rick), Erik (Lehala), Ashley (Eric), Chelsea (Scott), Austin (Emily), Morgan (Andrew), Kelsey, Parker, and Hope; and 14 great-grandchildren: Anja, Luca, Teagan, Breckin, Asher, Silas, Graysen, Cruz, Brighton, Surrey, Berkeley, Winsley, Elliston and Essex. And he leaves behind one dog, his trusted and loyal Gert, who, as Jerry says, got him through the pandemic. Gert has been placed with another loving owner but misses her longtime friend and master.
Arrangements are being handled by Leo P. Gallagher & Sons Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich on August 20, 2022 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to Reading is Fundamental (rif.org), an organization committed to children’s literacy, or to any charity that benefits children and families.
