SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Jerry Williams, loving father, husband, grandfather and stepfather, died peacefully April 29, 2006. Jerry was born Dec. 9, 1935, in Nason, Ill. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and lived in White Plains, N.Y. and Boston, Mass. before moving to Bangor, where he raised his three sons, and worked as president of Emple Knitting Mills in Brewer. He later moved to Tucson, Ariz. where he worked as a real estate agent before retiring in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was an avid golfer and walker, a basketball and jazz music fan, and a dedicated philanthropist and businessman. Jerry was the past president of the New England Knitting and Sweater Association, the United Way of Penobscot Valley, the Jewish Community Council and Jewish Community Center of Bangor, as well as vice president of the Beth Abraham Congregation. He held a national cabinet position with the United Jewish appeal and served as the chairman of its young leadership council. He was the chairman of the Russian Settlement Council and the National Council of the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society. In that capacity, Jerry helped several families from the former Soviet Union settle in the United States. He was on the New England Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League of B’Nai Brith and the former vice president of the Maine Jewish Council. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge No. 31 in Mount Vernon, Ill. for 49 years. Jerry is survived by his wife, Bernall of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his three sons, Daniel and wife, Emily, of Orono, Kenneth and wife, Michelle, of Wellington, Fla. and Eric of Center Valley, Pa.; father, Lester, formerly of Mount Vernon, Ill.; brother, Donn and wife, Julie, of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Michelle and husband, Hugh Sigwerth, of Aurora, Ill.; granddaughters, Sydney and Olivia Williams; niece, Dawn Larson and husband, Michael; and nephews, Scott Williams and wife, Stephanie and Darrell and Paul Sigwerth; stepchildren, Laura Medill and Lance Robinson, both of Phoenix, Ariz. Services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of America.
JERRY LEE WILLIAMS
