Gustav Adolf Kermish, age 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Rockland, Maine, on Sunday, Dec 7 2025.
Born on August 14, 1947, in Mukachevo, Ukraine, Gustav's remarkable journey led him from a brief period in Poland to formative years in Israel following the death of his father before settling with his mother in Brooklyn, New York. His passion for science led him to study physics at Hunter College and CUNY, culminating in a Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Maryland. It was during his college studies in New York that he met his future wife, Judith, after noticing her in a photo shared by a mutual friend.
Following his doctoral work, which included research on the J/Psi meson, Gustav spent time at NIST in Maryland before transitioning into aerospace engineering, where he spent the majority of his career in New Jersey. His intellectual curiosity and love of physics never waned. Much to the concern of his grown children, he was a natural tinkerer, recently dedicating his time to modifying a walker for use with an electric scooter and repairing the broken computer in his minivan. He deeply enjoyed talking about how things worked with his son, who followed him into the field of physics.
Gustav was a quirky man known for doing things his own way, but he also possessed great empathy. He was incredibly kind and soft-spoken. He had a genuine love for nature and instilled that in his children as they took their forest walks together most weekends. His daughter inherited his love of the natural world and enjoyed walking outdoors with her father right up until the end of his life. He never forgot his immigrant experience and remained grateful for the opportunities afforded to him that allowed him to build a comfortable life for his family after arriving in the US with his single mother, with only what they were able to carry.
He is survived by his children, Ruth and Ziggy, and his four cherished grandchildren, Elana, Izzy, Otis, and Ezra. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Judith.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 10th, at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, NY. Guests are asked to arrive by 12:30 PM at the office for the 1:00 PM service. Shiva will be observed at Ziggy's home at 198A Kent St, Apt 2 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, on Thursday, December 11th, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. And at Ruth's home in Camden, ME on Saturday, Dec 13th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Born on August 14, 1947, in Mukachevo, Ukraine, Gustav's remarkable journey led him from a brief period in Poland to formative years in Israel following the death of his father before settling with his mother in Brooklyn, New York. His passion for science led him to study physics at Hunter College and CUNY, culminating in a Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Maryland. It was during his college studies in New York that he met his future wife, Judith, after noticing her in a photo shared by a mutual friend.
Following his doctoral work, which included research on the J/Psi meson, Gustav spent time at NIST in Maryland before transitioning into aerospace engineering, where he spent the majority of his career in New Jersey. His intellectual curiosity and love of physics never waned. Much to the concern of his grown children, he was a natural tinkerer, recently dedicating his time to modifying a walker for use with an electric scooter and repairing the broken computer in his minivan. He deeply enjoyed talking about how things worked with his son, who followed him into the field of physics.
Gustav was a quirky man known for doing things his own way, but he also possessed great empathy. He was incredibly kind and soft-spoken. He had a genuine love for nature and instilled that in his children as they took their forest walks together most weekends. His daughter inherited his love of the natural world and enjoyed walking outdoors with her father right up until the end of his life. He never forgot his immigrant experience and remained grateful for the opportunities afforded to him that allowed him to build a comfortable life for his family after arriving in the US with his single mother, with only what they were able to carry.
He is survived by his children, Ruth and Ziggy, and his four cherished grandchildren, Elana, Izzy, Otis, and Ezra. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Judith.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 10th, at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, NY. Guests are asked to arrive by 12:30 PM at the office for the 1:00 PM service. Shiva will be observed at Ziggy's home at 198A Kent St, Apt 2 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, on Thursday, December 11th, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. And at Ruth's home in Camden, ME on Saturday, Dec 13th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
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