Jerome Gumbiner

Jerome Gumbiner, age 93, Jerry to his many friends, passed quietly on July 7, 2019 at Suburban Hospital in Rockville, MD. He was the son of the late Herman and Minnie Gumbiner and brother of the late Florence (Ben) Putterman of Brooklyn, NY. He married Norma Gottlieb in 1952, who predeceased him in 1987 and in 1992 married Barbara Platt who passed in 2016. Jerry is survived by his two children, Lewis Gumbiner (Lindsy) and Martha Lichtblau (Jerry); his stepchildren Elaine Gallagher Gehrmann (Axel) and Anne Gallagher Wilson (David); his grandchildren, Jonathon, Collin and Sara Gumbiner, Noah, Eli and Kira Lichtblau, Noah and Sophia Gehrmann and Thomas Chorney; his many relatives and dear friends. Jerry served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. As a sailor, he was crew on the USS Bonhomme Richard and at the time of his death was one of the last living WWII veterans in America. The awards for his service include American Theatre Medal, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal (2 stars) and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon. He transitioned out of the Navy in 1946 after two years of honorable service and took a job as a shipping clerk and eventually earned his way to Sales VP for a textile firm in New York City. After living in Princeton, NJ for over ten years, Jerry and Norma opened and operated a Thomas Sweet ice cream store in Georgetown, DC and eventually a manufacturing site that served many restaurants in the area. He sold the business in 2001, retiring at his and Barbara’s beautiful residence at 4100 Cathedral Ave NW. He was a supporter of humanitarian causes and as part of the Greatest Generation worked throughout his life to make the world a better place. He enjoyed bridge, theater, beer tasting and in his younger years, tennis and touch football. He was a connoisseur of fine food, an avid reader, loved to tell stories and was a big fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and NY football Giants. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate his life will be held Friday, July 19 from 6-9pm at Revitz House (Apt 219) and Saturday, July 20 from 1-4pm at Revitz House (Room AC1) and then 4-6pm in Apt 219. Revitz House address is 6111 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southern Poverty Law Center, Barbara Schaffer Gumbiner International Scholarship Fund at Juniata College or Revitz House @ Charles E. Smith Life Communities.