Dr. Gerald A. Kempner, of State College, died at home on November 1, 2004 after a courageous year-long battle with cancer.
Jerry was born in the Bronx, NY, on March 15, 1931, the only child of Milton Kempner and Cele Small Kempner. After graduating from Bronx High School of Science and attending City College of New York, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from The Chicago College of Optometry. Honorably discharged from the army in 1955, he married Ruth (ne Aronow) the same year and in 1956 moved to Clearfield, where he practiced optometry for forty-five years, after which he moved to State College in 1998 and continued to practice part-time until 2001.
Jerry served as President of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association in 1987, and in 1990 was voted "Optometrist of the Year" by the POA. In 2004 he was honored with a special award of merit by the same organization. For forty years he was an active member of the Lions' Club, dedicated to alleviating and treating vision problems around the world. He also volunteered to examine participants' vision for the Special Olympics.
He was an active member of Clearfield's Temple Beth Sholom for 40 years, where he taught both Sunday school and Hebrew to children.
A gifted amateur photographer, Jerry exhibited his work at the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, Zola's New World Bistro, the Philatelic Society, and the Susquehanna Arts Center. He won a number of awards, including "Best in Show" at the Laurel Arts Festival in Brookville. Recently he was one of a small number of area artists whose work was chosen for permanent display in the Penn Stater Hotel.
A member of the Clearfield Old Town Players and the Community Arts Studio Theater for some years, he performed many roles, including Fiddler on the Roof, Desk Set, The Caine Mutiny Court Trial, Oliver, Visit to a Small Planet, and Vincent.
Jerry was an active docent for Penn State's Palmer Museum of Art, introducing school children and adults alike to the area's artistic heritage. Along with his family, he was also an enthusiastic traveler, visiting Italy, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, and the American West. The family spent a number of happy summers in Provincetown, MA.
He was a lover of art and music, especially opera and classical music. He delighted in good food and wine, preferably shared with friends. He was a runner, a hiker, and above all an inveterate raconteur. Jerry will be terribly missed by his family, his former patients and co-workers, and a multitude of friends.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ruth, by his daughter Shelley and son-in-law Jonathan of New York City, and by his son Steve, daughter-in-law Kathy and granddaughters Ginger and Jesika of Glen Richey, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make donations to the Art Alliance, 824 Pike Street, Lemont, or alternatively to PAWS, at 1042 Benner Pike, State College, from which his and Ruth's much beloved feline friends Lola, Leo, and Bernie were adopted.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2005, which would have marked their 50th wedding anniversary. Time and place yet to be determined.