He was the husband of Lotty Polis. They shared 58 years of marriage together. Jerry often said that marrying Lotty was his one big stroke of genius.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jerry was the son of Abraham and Rebecca Polis. He attended Central High School and then went on to get an accounting degree from Penn State University. Jerry was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
After graduating college Jerry was in the Army and did his basic training with the Screaming Eagles. Afterwards Jerry worked for the Army’s audit division, and he helped audit government contracts, often at college campuses.
Jerry began his long list of business ventures when he bought a Jolly Roger ice cream truck and hired people to work the route for him. He also took a truck and designed a modification so it could make cotton candy. In 1963 Jerry decided he was through with the cold on the East Coast and wanted to move west. He decided on Las Vegas as his landing spot. He called Las Vegas the last great frontier in the U.S. This is where Jerry’s entrepreneurial spirit really got going. He had a billboard company, a bus bench company, an advertising agency, and was the broker in his own real estate office. Jerry loved to make a deal and during his time in Las Vegas he was a partner in toy stores, a beauty parlor, a Baskin Robbins, a trophy shop, a specialty cheese and wine shop, camera stores, an art gallery, and coin operated laundromats. Jerry was part owner of the Taco Bell franchise in Nevada and he also was influential in helping to start a small commercial bank.
Jerry and his family were early members of Congregation Ner Tamid. He spent a lot of time as a member of the service group Sertoma, which is how Jerry liked to support the hearing-impaired community. He did enjoy being charitable and gave back in many ways over the years.
Early on in Vegas, Jerry flew single engine airplanes. He enjoyed the company of good friends. Jerry loved family, traveling, and especially visiting Lotty’s native Luxembourg.
Jerry is survived by his wife Lotty Polis, son David Polis (Karen Polis), son Eric Polis (Illisa Polis), and grandsons Anthony, Alex, and Jacob Polis; and granddaughters, Kylie and Adina Polis. The funeral service will be held this Sunday, December 8, at 10 am at King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery at 2697 E. Eldorado Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89120. Memorial donations (in lieu of flowers) may be made to Congregation Ner Tamid at 55 N. Valle Verde Dr, Henderson, NV 89074. King David Memorial Chapel handled the arrangements.
