Jerome J. Segal

1929 - 2018

Jerome J. Segal, surrounded by family and loved ones, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. He was born in Pittsburgh in 1929 and attended Roosevelt Elementary School. He graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1947. In addition to the standard curriculum, Jerry took "Saturday classes" that were awarded to students based on their artistic promise. One of his teachers was the famous Pittsburgh painter Samuel Rosenberg. He continued his education with a B.S. and an M.B.A from the University of Pittsburgh and added engineering classes. In 1951, Jerry joined the Army, serving on the front lines in Korea and rising to the rank of staff sergeant. Shortly after returning to the States in 1954, Jerry met and married Harriet Winikoff (Z"L). Over the next five years, they were blessed with three sons. In 1955, Jerry became the president of Dormont Manufacturing Co., a small pipe fabrication shop in Lawrenceville.In 1970, Jerry invented the first flexible stainless steel gas appliance connector.Subsequently, in 1972--in collaboration with McDonald's-he invented the first quick disconnect gas connector for the food service industry. Because his inventions improved the safety of all gas appliance installations, Jerry was recognized by the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Dormont quickly became an industry standard:its products can be found in almost all commercial kitchens around the world. Jerry met his second wife, Dr. Monica Zettler-Segal, and they were together for 40 happy years. He became a stepfather to her three children and the family continued to grow with spouses and grandchildren. They loved the crazy mayhem of a large, diverse, blended family. From his first years, Jerry loved and dabbled in all forms of the visual arts.Although demands in college precluded any art courses, over the years he managed to perfect his pastel techniques, study metal sculpting and-almost daily-grab a pencil or colored pen and sketch something that caught his eye. After the sale of Dormont in 2006. Jerry created original oil paintings which depicted his own unique interpretations of photographs taken by the Hubble Telescope. In order to capture the special visual characteristics of the cosmos, Jerry decided to forego the traditional paintbrush and use his fingers (encased in rubber gloves). As Jerry described his technique in an interview, "look at how much fun I was having, streaking through the heavens with my hands." Jerry's collection was on display at a series of exhibitions at the American Jewish Museum Gallery in the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh. Beyond his love of art, Jerry was an avid gardener (hosting several local summer garden tours), a devoted animal lover (adopting numerous rescue dogs and cats) and an adventurous traveler. He and Monica are the proud owners of a small historic Regent Square home that they renovated extensively. It now includes a studio with a two-story ceiling and a cozy library-both overlooking the park-and was the subject of an episode on HGTV. He was also the de facto mayor of the JCC Men's Health Club, playing billiards and kibitzing for hours with his dear friends. Jerry loved comedy and laughter, sharing his passion for Mel Brooks and Borscht Belt humor at any occasion. He was an ardent supporter of Israel, inspired by his first cousin (Jerry Inbar Z"L), who emigrated in 1950, and with whom he toured the country several times. Jerry is survived by his wife, Monica; his three sons, Dr. Eric (Karen), Dr. Lee (Susie) and Evan (Tracy); three stepchildren, Deirdre O'Hearn (Tim Baldwin, Esq.), Steve O'Hearn (Dr. Demmler Schenk) and Dr. Kirsten O'Hearn (Dr. Eric Donny); eight grandchildren, Ben Segal (Feliz Molina), Jessica Segal, Tess Segal DePaula (Marcus), Ariel Segal Eck (Chris), Dr. Julia Segal, Jory Segal, Frances and Audrey Donny; his sister, Esther Fuhrman (Bob); his good friend, Maureen Williams; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jerry was preceded in death (Z"L) by his parents, Harry and Lena Segal; his sister, Annette Wolfson; his first wife, Harriet; and his granddaughter, (Emily Segal.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at RALPH SCHUGAR CHAPEL INC., 5509 Centre Ave., Shadyside. Visitation will be two hours prior to services (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Interment will be at Homewood Cemetery. Shiva will be held for one night only, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at the Jewish Community Center, 5738 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh, 5738 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217, or the Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center,,6926 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208. www.schugar.com.