ALBANY – Jerome Flax, 91, of Albany, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Jerome has finally gone to meet his beloved Jessie Amanda. Son of the late Julius and Alice Flax, he was born in Newark, NJ on March 17, 1922, and moved to Hudson, NY at the age of five. He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II for three years, and was awarded two battle stars. He was a 1949 graduate of Siena College, and earned a Masters Degree in 1950 from the State University of New York. From 1950 to 1965 he was an English teacher in Granville and East Islip, and then in Vernon-Verona, and Medina, where he also coached the debate team. From 1965 until his retirement in 1982, he was employed by the New York State Education Dept. Jerome was an ardent supporter of many organizations that help others. He also was a member and past president of the Friends of Albany Public Library, and a member of the English Speaking Union, the Men’s Garden Club, the Torch Club and the Torah Study Group at B’Nai Shalom Reform Congregation.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Jerome was predeceased by his siblings: Rose F. Seuss, Joseph Flax and Dorothea S. Schips. He is survived by his niece, Joann (Ed) Krawic and nephews Marshall (Nancy) Suess and Mitchell (Michelle) Schips and his friend Fredda Peritz.
Jerome loved to travel with Jessie and was a voracious reader, especially of non-fiction. He shared his love for books with his students and other children in his life. Jerome was the kindest of men. He believed that he had such a wonderful life and insisted on making contributions to those whose lot in life had not been so fortunate. He was always grateful for Social Security, Medicare and the GI Bill, which he believed allowed him to meet Jessie, a fellow teacher, and share an incredible marriage.
Jerome’s life was filled with cherished friends, neighbors and the special “Ladies” (and a Gent) who cared for him until his last breath. We are especially thankful for the love, caring and generosity of Kathy and Joe Pingelski, Don Miller, Russell and Maria Greenman, Jeffrey Sullivan, Dr. Richard Propp, Rita Schachne, Oneika Miller, Barbara Davis, Maxine Lepak, Coleen Peart, Camille Johnson, Simone Foster, Dwayne Goldson and Maxine Maul. We are also grateful to Dr. Robert Kelleher for the special care and guidance he gave, and Community Hospice for their caring support.
Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany on Wednesday March 5th at 3:00 pm. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Wednesday beginning 1:00 pm. A Shiva minyan will be held at 7:00 pm at the home of Dr. Richard Propp, 13 Marion Ave., Albany NY 12203.
Interment will be held at a later date in Evergreen Cemetery in Fabius, NY. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the Friends of Albany Public Library, Inc., 161 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210; or to B’Nai Shalom Reform Congregation, 420 Whitehall Rd, Albany, New York 12208. To leave a message of condolence for the family, send a sympathy card, or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
Kathy and Joe Pingelski Jr.
You will always be loved and missed.
Nikki Davis
My prayer goes out to the Flax family, I would like to express my condolence at this time to your family. The Bible is a great source of encouragement at times like this, a comforting thought is at Revelation 21:4 “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away”
kevin rose
I am a member of the MGCA and I so sorry for your loss. Jerry was always very nice to me when I would go to the meetings and the various events I would see him at. I will say a prayer for you and your family and for God to lok after him.
PEARL
I am sorry to read of your family’s loss of dear loved one to the “enemy death” and extend my condolence to all of you. May it give your family comfort to know that our Creator has ” a longing ” to conquer that enemy, to undo death by means of the resurrection. He longs to bring back those in his memory and to see them live on the Paradise Jesus Christ promised at Luke 23:43. ( 1 Corinthians 15:26 ) ( Job 14:14,15 )
joseph krausman
Jerry was a wonderful, kind and generous man. He was a great friend of the library, and also a President of the Friends of the Albany Public Library. It was a pleasure to chat with him at the weekly library meetings. He was very knowledgeable about books, history, and the English language. He will be missed by all of us who knew him. May he rest in peace.
Joe Krausman
Albany Torch Club
The entire Albany New York Torch Club sends condolences to the family of Jerome Flax. He was a long time member, well liked and respected .In 2007 he received the Silver Torch award for his service to Torch. Many of the members have expressed thoughts on his being a fine person, dear friend and steady supporter of Torch and other organizations.
Mary Fitzgerald-Hoyt
Dear Flax family, please accept my heartfelt sympathy. I first met Jerry over 20 years ago when he asked me to deliver one of the Noon Book Reviews at Albany Public Library; I later met him at a Siena Alumni event. He was such a kind, gracious, intellectually curious man whose generous and compassionate spirit shone through in even a brief conversation. The world was enhanced by his presence, and diminished by his loss.
Peace and comfort to you all, and may your memories give you joy.
Mary Fitzgerald-Hoyt, Professor of English, Siena College
Joe and Ellen Lacy Messina
Mr. Flax was our English teacher at Medina High School. He was one of our favorite teachers, and the reason that I (Ellen) majored in English in college. After college, we moved to Albany and were delighted to run into him and to become friends with him and Jessie.
He was such an interesting man and a truly nice person. Our deepest sympathies on your loss.