Jerry David Josephs

1937-2025

Jerry Josephs of Santa Ana, California died peacefully on Monday, April 28th. The loving husband of Clara, father to Sharon and David, stepfather to Gina and grandfather of Rachel, Asher, Lilly and Gaby will be missed tremendously.

Born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Jerry led a long and fulfilling life. He was a proud graduate of Brandeis University and cherished the friendships that he made there for his entire life. He enjoyed great success professionally but his proudest achievements were the relationships and friendships that he built over his long life.

Jerry’s experiences and stories were legendary and varied. As a member of the army reserve he learned to throw grenades long distance; “you wanted that thing as far away from you as you could possibly get it”, he would later tell his children. His hobbies became passions and he embraced all that he tried. At various points in his life he would give handmade gifts of leather work or wood work that he had painstakingly crafted in his workshops. He combined his love of fly fishing with his strong environmentalism, somehow never actually hooking any fish despite seeming to try desperately. He was justly proud of the shotgun-pellet-riddled hat that he earned for his first perfect round of trap shooting at his local gun club. In the kitchen, his popovers remain legendary.

His life was full of adventures. He met people as varied as Richard Nixon and the world’s tallest man. He was endlessly interested in just about everything and would send books to people that he thought they would enjoy. He was a fan of baseball in just about any form, from his beloved Red Sox to the local minor league team the Elsinore Storm.

Above all, Jerry loved his family. He was lucky enough to be able to shape and guide two households, and those households were fortunate to have him. Sharon and David are the people they have become because of his guidance and influence. Gina and her daughter Lilly benefitted from having Jerry as part of their lives for his last decades, enjoying his wisdom, compassion, generosity and love. Rachel, Asher and Gaby all have wonderful and lasting memories of his humor, tales (long and short), and his joy for their interests and achievements.

Jerry loved his wife, Clara, with all his heart. Their partnership is a strong a loving one, and its strength will be felt even with him gone.

Jerry’s profession was real estate and he used to say that land that faced water was really valuable because, as he would put it, “They ain’t makin’ any more”. If that’s true, then Jerry was land on water, because they ain’t makin’ any more like him either.

May his memory be for a blessing.

A funeral service will be held at Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary, located at 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705, on May 5, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

Following the funeral service, a graveside service will take place at Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary, also at 1702 Fairhaven Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

Donations can be made to Meals On Wheels Orange County.