Born Gerald Lawrence Chestler in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Edward Chestler and Betty Forkus (both of blessed memory), Jerry was raised in Cleveland and was a proud alumnus of The Ohio State University. He relocated to California, where he attended UCLA and received a master’s degree in political science. Jerry lived in Los Angeles until moving to San Francisco 24 years ago. In 2020, he relocated to Fanwood, New Jersey, to be closer to his loving family.
Jerry was employed by April Insurance for many years, working in insurance sales. Some of his passions included following and handicapping horse races; he loved the thrill of the race. Health and fitness were his top priorities, and he was proud to have competed in a bodybuilding competition in his younger years at Muscle Beach in Venice, California. He was a true Buckeyes fan and followed all Ohio State sports with great passion. An avid reader and a lifelong learner, he was well-versed in current events. He always looked forward to celebrating holidays with his close friends and family and was a great listener. Jerry was a wine connoisseur and known for being a big foodie. Instead of bedtime stories, he would sometimes ask his daughters, "What dish do you want to be tonight?" He would then tell them about his favorite dishes that he had experienced and wanted to add to his next ‘foodie experience’.
Jerry is survived by his two daughters, Stephanie Naznitsky (Todd) and Lauren Weiss (Michael). He was a proud grandfather to Brooke and Ari Naznitsky, and Mollie and Jake Weiss. Jerry is also survived by his dear sister, Marcia Hermelin.
