In Memory of

Jerome Schneider

April 24, 2020

Obituary

Jerome Schneider, a Port Authority Police Officer passed away yesterday.

Jerry was born at home in The Bronx on January 19, 1928 to Gussie and Samuel Schneider. He was the baby of the family. His sister Dorothy Komisar and her husband Jack (deceased) were former residents of Clearbrook. His brother Harold survived battles in World War II, came home, and was killed at age 30 in an automobile accident.

Jerry and I met when we were 15 years old while we were on summer vacation in the Rockaways in Long Island, New York. It was there that we made lifelong friends – some for as long as 75 years. At that time, we found out that we both lived in The Bronx, not too far from one another. Our courtship began that fall. We attended both High School proms in grand style and garb.

In 1946, at the age of 18, Jerry enlisted in the United States Army and was shipped to Japan after basic training. He was assigned to Ordinance. However, by a stroke of faith he as assigned to head the Enlisted Men’s Club. He was creative and became the “Pearl Mesta” of the post, providing music, entertainment, etc. for the enlisted men.

Jerry returned home in 1948. I received a telegram from him telling me when he would arrive. Looking at the telegram, I figured out the only way home was to fly. I called every airline and found a flight arriving at LaGuardia from Seattle, Washington. My family and his greeted our hero when he stepped out of the plane. We were engaged a few months after his return home and married on January 1, 1949. Unfortunately, Jerry lost his job two weeks before the wedding. Times were hard. After several bad jobs he found an ad in The Bronx Home News recruiting Police Officers for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He responded and that led to an outstanding 20-year career at the Lincoln Tunnel.

After he retired from the Port Authority he found a new 15-year career at Bear Stearns. He started at the bottom,. advanced, and retired as Director of Purchasing.

He was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend. Our 75-year friend Edie was our travel companion. Jerry was also very creative. He painted in oils until he developed Basic Essential Tremor. He also built the most beautiful bird houses. His mother said he had “Golden Hands.” He could fix anything.

Jerry was on the Board of the Jewish Congregation of Clearbrook, as well as the Section 10 Board until his health deteriorated.

He had a great sense of humor, told long stories, loved to travel, and was very social. In other words, he was an all-around good man.

Jerry is survived by his wife Mildred (PA retired --Public Affairs); daughter Betty Adamsen and her husband Marc,; son Steven and his wife Ellen; granddaughter Sara and her life partner Rachel Rosen; grandson Joshua and his wife Beth; as well as great-grandchildren Jordan, Olivia and Exa June (born late evening on the day of Jerry’s funeral.
 

Mildred Schneider