Jerry Deutsch, 70, Lived Abroad, But Was Raised In Fair Lawn

Editor's note: The following obituary was provided by Jerry Deutsch's family. It has been edited for style and clarity.

Jerry Deutsch, of Jacksonville, Florida, died on May 20 after a brave battle with cancer.

Deutsch was born on Oct. 3, 1945 at Jewish Memorial Hospital in New York. Raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, he graduated from Rutgers University in 1967 and began a life that led him all over the world. After some time in the Peace Corps, Deutsch was employed by the U.S. Naval Exchange Service and S&J Military Sales.

After years of living in places like Japan, the Philippines, San Diego, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Staten Island and Norfolk, Jerry has called Jacksonville his home for the past 20 years.

An obituary, by definition, is ‘a notice of a death typically including a brief biography of the deceased person’. We have learned so much about Jerry in these past few weeks, that it seems the story is not over, it’s on going. His selflessness, his positive involvement in the lives of strangers, his philanthropic ways that did not only involve money, but his time, his love and his energy, his relationships with people all over the world that were maintained over a lifetime, and his passion and commitment to people whose lives he changed, are all becoming known to us and we look forward to hearing all of the stories that were untold.

We are hearing stories of how he mentored people decades ago who have grown up with a lifetime of gratitude for him. Jerry never had children, but there are grown men and women around the world that call him “dad." “Fatherhood requires love, not DNA,” is what one man recently wrote about Jerry. We received another note of sympathy letting us know that grief is being shared by people all over the world. At this sad time, we are comforted by these amazing stories.

Deutsch was predeceased by his mother, Liesel, and her husband Lou, and his father, David Deutsch, and his wife Harriet. He is survived by his brothers Steve and his wife Anne, Murray, and his wife Maxine, and Gary. He has six nieces and nephews, all in the tri-state area, along with their spouses and 13 grand nieces and nephews who will miss Uncle Jerry so very much. He will be missed but never forgotten by Bryan and Victoria McClain, as well as everyone who was fortunate enough to meet him in his 70 years. He was not just a son, brother, cousin and uncle, he was a friend, an accomplice, a comedian, and a one-of-a-kind human being.

A service will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge. His family will receive visitors at 45 Murray Hill Terrace in Marlboro.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his honor can be made to the Community Hospice Foundation; 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, Fla. 32257 or donate securely at Donatenow.communityhospice.com.