Jerry Hodus

The son of Conrad and Edith Hodus, Jerry Hodus was born in the Bronx in 1947. He was a New York city kid who found independence at a young age through hard work at a car wash, as a waiter upstate, and other odd jobs. His childhood wasn't all about work, though. He had close friends around him constantly and spent magical summers upstate with his cousins and aunts and uncles at the Hodus Bungalow Colony. He graduated from Hunter College in NYC and earned a masters degree from Fordham. He met Harriette Hodus, the love of his life, during his college years. Jerry was a devoted husband for nearly 50 years. They had a truly happy marriage and experienced ALL the beauty of life together; the joys of parenthood, incredible vacations, great times with friends, and the birth of grandchildren. Jerry was a proud and committed father to Matthew and Brett Hodus. He was a father who led by the example he set every day. He was a mensch. Jerry loved his grandchildren, Maya, Eve, Samuel, Naomi and Sadie. Although family was always at the center of his life, Jerry was also a very successful man. He started out as a salesman for a pharmaceutical company. His passion for education was the force behind a career change that led to Jerry becoming a high school principal by his early thirties. Over the years, he touched the lives of thousands of young people. Later in life, he changed careers again, this time morphing into a successful financial planner who helped people in an entirely different way. He excelled in this line of work because Jerry was well-known for being as likable and trustworthy as he was kind. His booming deep voice, NYC accent, and his broad smile made everyone he met want to be around him. Any stranger in his path would soon become a friend....and those who were lucky enough to call him a friend were friends for life. Jerry loomed large not only because he was tall and big and strong, but because when he stepped into a room -- any room - the energy visibly shifted toward him. And he handled the attention with humility, and with big loud hugs, big loud stories, and an infectious personality that was somehow strong and gentle at the same time. Among those who knew him well, Jerry was the loyal friend you could count on. He would back you up in a fight, or drive you to the airport, or give you the shirt off his back. To his family, he was the patriarch, the foundation, and the heart & soul. He loved family first, poker and the Mets. Jerry had so much love that he shared with the world... and the world loved him back. He fought the cancer with bravery and courage. To nobody's surprise, he defied all the odds. He passed away peacefully at home, on his terms, and with his family close. He was not afraid. He was 73 years old and he will live on in the memories of so many who crossed paths with him.

Memorial service on 7/7/21 @ 1030 AM at Eternal Light Memorial Gardens.