Gerald Bernard "Gerry" Weisberg Obituary (1934 - 2024)

Gerry Weisberg, 89, son of Dr. Maurice and Minnie Weisberg of St. Paul, passed away peacefully at home early on June 6, 2024 with Sue at his side. Gerry had moved to Amira Choice Minnetonka in June, 2023, where his gentle manner, quirky sense of humor, kindness to everyone, and eagerness to explore the varied activities brought him happiness and friendships that overcame his long-held concerns about life in an assisted living environment. He soon learned that a wheelchair was the best way to cover his new territory. He rolled to the dining room, bistro and exercise room; called bingo, watched documentaries and feature films; enjoyed Friday Happy Hour; and frequented the library. His calling cards were colorful, patterned socks that were excellent conversation-starters, and he treasured the new pairs gifted to him by residents, staff and homecare nurses who wanted to add their flair to his style. Gerry grew up on Lombard Avenue in St. Paul, in a house built for his parents by his grandfather, a self-employed carpenter. He attended Linwood School and graduated from University High School in 1952. The “Class of ‘52” still gathers for an annual reunion around a large restaurant table and will toast their departed classmate in August. Gerry graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Drake University but was working as a banker at Crocker National in San Francisco when he was injured in an automobile accident in 1961. A visit to his parents led to a date with Sue, and they married in October, 1963. After Gerry retired from Dayton’s Southdale Home Store in 1995, a chance remark at a holiday party inspired him to volunteer at Seward Montessori, a Minneapolis Public School, first as a “gofer” in a fourth-grade class, and later helping younger children. His favorites were kindergartners, “because they could hug me around the knees, and they still believed I knew everything.” Seward teachers urged him to get a teaching license, so he enrolled in a Bemidji State/Metro State joint program and earned a B.S. Elementary Education at the age of 71. Gerry, Sue and a friend drove to Bemidji so he could “walk” at graduation. He was a substitute teacher and later mentored below-grade readers as a volunteer in the national AmeriCorps program. He enrolled in a variety of classes at the U of M, using a bright-red rollator to get to the bus and roll around campus in all kinds of weather. He did water aerobics at the Uptown YW in the mornings, then boarded the bus to the condominium he and Sue shared in the Loring Hill neighborhood. Gerry and Sue attended concerts of the Minnesota Orchestra, SPCO, Minnesota Opera and Guthrie Theater; experienced exciting travels to Croatia, Slovenia, China, the Netherlands, South Africa and Botswana; and spent many vacations in Vancouver, B.C., where Sue has family from South Africa. Gerry was preceded in death by parents; niece Robin Weseen (2023); and aunts, uncles and cousins who were important to him throughout his life. He is survived by Sue, his wife of 60 years; brother Mort; Robin’s family of children and grandchildren; niece Tracy Otus and her family; nephew Jon; cousins and their families. Mort and Tracy, who live in California, visited Gerry at Amira in April and created two days of lovely memories. Gerry valued all his family and friends, and they will miss the happy times they shared over his nearly-90 years. Funeral service 11:00 am FRIDAY, June 28th in the Garden Mausoleum at LAKEWOOD CEMETERY, 3600 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis. An Informal memorial gathering will be held from 2:00pm-4:00pm SUNDAY, June 30th at Amira Choice, 2004 Plymouth Road, Minnetonka. All who loved and enjoyed knowing Gerry are invited. Memorials preferred to support The Free Book Buggie (thefreebookbuggie.org), Anti-Defamation League of Minnesota (adl.org, then specify MN on form), Grace Hospice (www.gracecaring.org), or a charity of the donor’s choice. Funeral is available on Zoom: www.hodroffs.com/GerryWeisberg