Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Berkelhammer
1931 – 2024
Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Berkelhammer passed away peacefully on December 31, 2024 at the age of 93 at his home at Stonebridge in Montgomery Township, New Jersey. Jerry was born in Newark to Max and Cecelia (Schein) Berkelhammer on February 3, 1931 and raised in Summit.
He graduated from Summit High School and went on to earn an AB degree from Brown University in 1952 and then a PhD, both in organic chemistry, from the University of Washington in 1957. His first job, though, was working at his father’s hardware store in Summit every Saturday and summers.
After receiving his PhD, he went on to work for the American Cyanamid Company for 42 years, first at the Stamford, Connecticut Laboratories and then at the Agricultural Research Division in Princeton where he rose to be the Executive Director of Chemical Discovery. During this long and successful career he received 41 patents and was the author of 11 chemical journal papers. Jerry was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the honorary societies, Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon.
Jerry married Sheila Rosenson on June 20, 1954. They first “met” back in 1934, when Jerry was 3 and Sheila an infant in a baby carriage, because their parents were friends and both families lived in the same apartment house in Irvington. They became re-acquainted in 1953 when Jerry came back to Summit for a visit, and after a courtship carried out mostly long-distance by US mail between Elizabeth, New Jersey and Seattle, Washington, finally tied the knot.
During his long career at Cyanamid Jerry served his community as a member of the Board of Education in Ewing Township from 1966-1968 and in retirement as President of Princeton’s Allison Road Association, as a volunteer at the Princeton Hospital pharmacy, and at Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, now known as Learning Ally. Jerry was a member of House 1 of the Community Without Walls, and its treasurer for three years. As a member of the Old Guard, he chaired its Arrangements Committee.
For over seventy years Jerry was an avid tennis player and competed with great success in the Mercer County Men’s Tennis League. He loved skiing and camping and instilled that love in his children and eventually, in his grandchildren. In retirement he spent many happy hours on local tennis courts. In addition, after he retired, he audited over twenty-five courses at Princeton University, especially history, and read everything ever written about World War I. For 21 wonderful years he called himself the “head groundskeeper” at his and Sheila’s home on Allison Road, where he grew amazing vegetables including bumper crops of asparagus and many varieties of salad greens and tomatoes, and provided all his friends with tomato seedlings. His asparagus bed at Stonebridge lives on!
Jerry is survived by his wife, Sheila, his daughter Jill Zorn and her husband, Jonathan, his sons Fred and Paul and Fred’s wife, Debra, and five grandchildren: Abigail and Hannah Zorn, Sam and Sara Berkelhammer, and Shira Berkelhammer, as well as his sister Ruth (Berkelhammer) Fink.
Funeral services and burial are at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Woodbridge on Friday, January 3 at 11 AM. Contributions in Jerry’s memory may be made to causes of the donor’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/Gerald-Berkelhammer
I met Jerry in 1967 when I joined American Cyanamid and in many capacities we interacted until his retirement. He was a nearly perfect colleague helping, encouraging and challenging you to be your best. We both shared a zest for skiing and went skiing together. However, tennis was Jerry’s love ,and he with various partners played against my wife Pat and me in many amazing singles a doubles matches . Even in retirement we found ourselves together again now at Stonebridge for this last year. It has been a privilege to enjoy Jerry’s company who Pat and I will happily remember, but sadly miss. Our deepest condolences go to Sheila and family
My condolences to you, Sheila, and your family.
Dear Fred, your story of your Dad was very heartfelt! I began working for your Dad in the chemistry department at Cyanamid in 1981 in Princeton. I reported up to him, and then directly to him, through 1995. He was not only my boss but a true mentor who always gave me his utmost support, encouragement, and free rein to excel at my various positions. I will always be grateful for his guidance and professionalism. I am saddened about his passing but the impact he had on the department and fellow colleagues cements his lasting legacy. My condolences to you, your Mom Sheila, and all of your family.
🧑🔬🧪🥼⚗️🙏🏻💙
Words cannot express the sadness you and your family are feeling . I hope it helps to know that I share in those feelings. Jerry was a rare individual. I liked him right off when we met in 1982. Please accept my deepest condolences. May you find peace and joy in sharing your memories with family and friends. God Bless.