Jerome Saks' Obituary
Jerome David Saks age 88 of Delray Beach passed away on January 3rd.THIS WAS WRITTEN BY JERRY:KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS WAS WRITTEN 11 YEARS AGOThe world of Jerry Saks includes Stella, my wonderful wife of 69 years, three children, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. It involves golf, travel, music, and bridge. My world, through my travels, has covered three-quarters of the globe, and, through my insatiable appetite for reading, probably covers the remaining quarter.After growing up in an apartment with my dad, mom, brother, and many, many cousins, I fell in love with Stella married her at the age of 19. Sixteen months later, we were blessed with the birth of Ronda. Two years later came Jeffrey, and three years after that (surprise, surprise) came Stuart. Today, Ronni is a retired language teacher, Jeff is a full-time musician/teacher, and Stu is a magazine publisher/editor.The three kids never had much in common, but they did all like to eat, so it was necessary that I work (well, for 46 years, anyway). My career was devoted to the record industry, in various configurations. I started in retail sales, went on to work in a “one-stop” record wholesale outlet, and I completed my work with many years as a director of “rack-job” operations at a New York City company that represented many independent record labels from all over the U.S. My functions were to arrange for “rack service” for almost 200 department store record shops.My responsibilities were many and the work was challenging. But I enjoyed most of the people who I worked with and there were some terrific fringe benefits: massive amounts of records for my music-loving family, concert tickets galore, and private parties with such stars as Barbra Steisand, Roger Daltrey of The Who, Tony Bennett, and many more.After retirement at age 57, Stella and I moved to Palm Beach County, Florida. I served as Director of Social Activities for our condominium, hiring talent from agencies (still waiting for Babs to return my call) and performing as M.C. for the shows. I was on the Condo Board of Directors for 11 years and served as President for two years.My interest in bridge has led me to teaching classes at our local clubhouse. I have also written a book on elementary bridge and an instructional tract on the game of canasta. I enjoy playing golf three times a week, although as the years go by and more balls get lost in the woods, I am beginning to think that I am more cut out for cerebral games.Travel has been our greatest pleasure, and it was sad when we went on our fourth “last cruise,” 42 days to Europe and beyond. Truthfully, “Non-Stop” Stella kept me from getting old. We’ve had a lot of living in our lifetime and I never regretted not one moment of it because Stella was my perfect partner and I would live it all over again with her by my side.Chapel Services 10:15 am Sunday, January 6th at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, 5808 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, Fl 33484 5610-499-8000. Interment at Eternal Light Memorial Gardens, Boynton Beach, Fl. Donations may be made to The Trustbridge Hospice Foundation.
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