JEREMIAH B. LIGHTER

I loved Jerry. I was a boy who lived next door in apt 7H. Jerry inspired me so much with his jovial wit reflected in his whimsical paintings, and his technical ability to build working model sailboats and and a electric light sculpture. He made two sailboats for me, my brother and sister, and my parents drove us all to Central Park to sail his beautiful boats. He also loaned me his beloved copy of Spinosa. I was very proud when he admired some of my first paintings. He was wonderful and...

We'll miss Jerry, a gallant, elegant, talented friend. We had a lot of fun together.

Please accept my deepest condolences.

Jerry was a mentor to me when I joined Harcourt in 1969. He introduced me to typography, book design and calligraphy, and challenged me at every turn. (And, like me, he could whistle anything!)

He was one of the most creative people I have ever known, and I will always think of him. I feel very lucky to have known him -- and to have a few of his drawings to remember him by.

I worked with Jerry at Harcourt Brace and World, then Harcourt Brace Jovanovich from 1969 until the mid-1970's. We worked in the department that produced elementary and high school English and Science textbooks. Jerry and I stayed in touch for many years exchanging artful holiday cards. Jerry was such a delightful, youthful, and charming man that I thought him ageless. I have many of his drawings, mostly of cats, and fond memories of pranks (as a newbie he once sent me out to buy a pound of...

To Umy's family--I grew up 2 floors above Umy and Gladys. I spent many evenings with Umy who taught me to play chess and appreciate his playing the banjo and uke. Recently whenever I came up to NYC I would always see Jerry and the last time we were together we had dinner at one of his favorite haunts...the grand central oyster bar. Like all good new yorkers he had an opinion about everything, but his laugh was infectious. I have several of his wood block prints and pastels. He was a dear dear...

Condolences to the family from a colleague OF Jerry's at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (1971-82)