Jeremy "Jerry" Gottstein

Jeremy N. Gottstein, 82, of Plymouth, Minnesota, died on August 31st, 2026.

Jerry gave 41 years to public education, teaching in the Minneapolis and Robbinsdale school districts. He began in the social studies classroom, where he had a gift for making history feel less like a list of dates and more like a story his students had walked into partway through. He later became a guidance counselor, and it was there that his life's work took its fullest shape. Over the years he sat with thousands of students and their families, helping them find a path through course selections and college applications, and just as often through divorces, illnesses, losses, and the ordinary crises that arrive without warning in a family's life. He was patient, he was steady, and he never made anyone feel like a problem to be managed. Decades later, former students still stopped him in grocery stores to tell him what a conversation in his office had meant to them. What he did professionally he also did at home. Over the years he became a sounding ear for many members of his extended family and friends as they went through hard times, always listening and never judging. For a good number of them, Jerry was the first call when they needed advice.

Jerry also facilitated and taught continuing education courses for the University of St. Thomas, helping working teachers maintain their credits. He believed strongly in how those classes were built: the instructors were people who had actually done the work they were teaching about. That was the whole point to him. Theory was fine, but a teacher walking back into a classroom on Monday morning needed something real, and Jerry made sure they got it.

Away from school, Jerry was an athlete of remarkable endurance. He completed a triathlon, ran marathons, and logged thousands of miles on his bicycle, almost always in the company of friends. He kept track of every one of those miles, first by hand in a book and later on an app on his phone. Cycling in particular became a lifelong pursuit and a lifelong social club. At 80 years old, he was still going out for 30-mile rides. His family long ago gave up trying to talk him out of it. The triathlon did not go as expected. He signed up for the half triathlon and then, in true Jerry fashion, lined up in the full one by mistake. Rather than stop, he finished the whole thing without ever having trained for that distance. His wife was not happy about it.

For all his miles, Jerry's true center was his family. He did not miss things. Not a game, not a concert, not a birthday. If one of his children was playing, he was in the stands. Summers off from teaching were never wasted on projects or side work; they were spent with family and friends, and he guarded that time carefully. His seven grandchildren knew him as a reliable presence on the sidelines and an enthusiastic audience for anything they wanted to show him. He was also their model for what it looked like to live a Jewish life, and every Friday night he called each of his children and grandchildren on FaceTime to wish them “Shabbat Shalom,” a peaceful Sabbath.

He was a joiner and a lifelong learner. Jerry took part in several Jewish study groups, belonged to book clubs, stayed active with retired teachers' groups, and rode with more than one cycling group. He cherished his friends and placed great value on those relationships.

And he was funny. Jerry loved a good joke and loved a good prank even more. He had an unerring sense for the perfect moment to set someone up, and a laugh that gave him away every time. He was also mistaken with some regularity for Paul Wellstone, which he handled with grace, explaining that he was not the senator but that he had met him once.

Jerry and his family are deeply grateful for the compassionate care he received throughout his journey. Their heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Premnath, Rebecca Dove, NP, and Jessica House, RN of the M Health Masonic Cancer Institute; to his caregivers Alfreda, Victoria, Carol, and Mark; and to the dedicated physical therapy team at Tandem Strength & Balance — Nicole, Dawn, and Lisa. Because of their skill and kindness, Jerry was given the gift of significantly more time.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carrie; his children, Jeff (Lisa), Dan (Amy), and Debbie (Mike); his grandchildren, Max, Andrew, Jordan, Emma, Zachary, Owen, and Micah; his sisters, Corrine Feinberg and Naomi Rivkin; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at Beth El Synagogue, 5225 Barry Street W, St. Louis Park, on Sunday, September 6th, at 11:00 a.m., with shiva to follow that evening at 7:00 p.m., also at Beth El Synagogue. Service available on zoom at: www.hodroffs.com/JerryGottstein

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are preferred to the Gottstein Technology Fund at Beth El Synagogue.