The REV. JEROME F. POLITZER died on July 27th, 2014 at home.
Rev. Politzer, or Father Jerry as he was also known, was born in San Francisco to Jerome Politzer and Augusta Foute Politzer in 1926. He grew up in San Francisco with his brothers Robert and Alexander, both deceased, and his sister Mary and attended Lowell High School. After serving in the Navy during the war, Rev. Politzer graduated from Stanford University and received a Bachelors of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and a S.T.M. from the Pacific School of Religion.
Rev. Politzer was ordained in 1952 and moved to Salinas, California, where he founded St. George’s Episcopal Mission in Alisal (now St. George’s Church in Salinas). He was also the founding Vicar of Good Shepherd Church, Corral de Tierra and Trinity Church, Gonzalez and was instrumental in establishing Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Salinas. Rev. Politzer was a faculty member of Golden Gate University, San Francisco, and a Founding Trustee of York Preparatory School in Monterey, California.
In 1968 Rev. Politzer became Rector of St. John’s Chapel, Del Monte, Monterey. Following retirement he served as Rector Emeritus until his death. In response to growing theological concerns within the Episcopal Church, Rev. Politzer developed The Prayer Book Society in 1981 and served as president until 1991. Rev. Politzer built The Prayer Book Society into the largest extant Episcopal lay society. Rev. Politzer published a series of books of his sermons and was at work on another at the time of his death.
Rev. Politzer is survived by his wife of 61 years, Beverly Reeves Politzer, his sister Mary Haney, his three children Jerome (Rose) Mary (Laurent Pradier) and Ann (Martin Rosenberg) and grandchildren Jerry, Paul, Jean, Thomas, Amelia and William.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. John’s Chapel, 1490 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey, California 93940, on Friday, August 1 at 11 A.M. The family would suggest that memorial contributions be made to St. John’s Chapel Foundation, 1490 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey, California 93940.
Arrangements under the direction of The Paul Mortuary, Pacific Grove, CA.
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