GERALD L. LANDAU

1919 - 2014

Landau, Gerald L. 95. Loving husband of 67 years of Miriam Landau, proud father of Jonathan Landau, and wife Barbara, David Landau, and wife Gretchen, loving grandfather to Kate Downey Landau, and Charles Downey Landau, and Jennifer Yankeliovich, and, in the last four months of his life, great grandfather to Gerald Yankeliovich Landau. The second of four children, he was predeceased by his older brother Herb, younger brother Martin, and younger sister Bernice. Born in 1919, in his early years he developed a passionate interest in jazz and baseball. Among his many heroes were Louis Armstrong, whose music he was still listening to just last month, and Willie Mays. During World War II he served as a paratrooper, and made 22 jumps during the war. After the war, he attended Brooklyn College and became a school teacher and historian until he was blacklisted by the New York City school system in 1952 for his political activities. In 1959, he began a second career when he joined the new Acoustic Research company and went on to be become its Vice President before retiring. Gerald was a lifetime student of language and always spoke with precision and clarity. He was an intellectual who followed the news and history of the world around him with great care and understanding. He had a talent for inventing children's stories and his tales about "Bruin the Bear" are considered classics, especially by his grandchildren. A charming and handsome man, with a twinkle in his eyes, a relaxed and friendly manner, he was always a natural, interesting, and witty conversationalist. Over the course of his 95 years, the most important thing to him was the love he shared with Miriam, Jonathan, Barbara, David, Gretchen, Kate, Charles, and young Gerald--his family, who loved him with all their heart. Plans for a memorial will be announced at a later date. Donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders.