Jerome M. Rothschild
April 4, 1939 - August 16, 2021
Columbus, Georgia - Jerome Maurice Rothschild (Jerry) died peacefully at his residence on August 16, 2021 after a lengthy illness. The funeral will be held graveside at Riverdale Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus, GA. Jerry was born in Columbus, Georgia on April 4, 1939. He attended St. Elmo Elementary and attended Columbus High School, before graduating Valley Forge Military Academy in 1957. He graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1961 with a degree in History, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Raven Society - the oldest and most prestigious honor society at UVA - and was chosen to live on the lawn at UVA, a further significant honor. He also lettered in track at UVA. After graduation from UVA, Jerry served two years in the United States Army as a field artillery officer. After active duty, he continued as a reserve officer and finished his reserve service with the rank of captain. Jerry returned to Charlottesville and commenced his legal education at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1963 and he received his bachelor of laws there in 1966. After law school, Jerry accepted a two-year appointment as law clerk to Judge Austin Hoyt of the United States Tax Court. After two years in Washington, D.C. as Judge Hoyt's law clerk, Jerry returned to Columbus where he engaged in the practice of law for more than 50 years, beginning his legal practice with the law firm then known as Kelly, Champion and Henson. In 1976, Jerry took a sabbatical to further his legal education in Australia at the University of Melbourne Law School in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and earned a Bachelor of Laws with Honors from the University of Melbourne Law School. He then returned to Columbus to practice law, including for several years with his dear friend, the late William H. Young, III. For the past 21 years, Jerry practiced law with one of his sons, Andrew Armstrong Rothschild, at the law firm now known as Rothschild & Rothschild, P.C. Jerry was a preeminent attorney known for his brilliant and agile mind, exceptional and extremely thorough legal work, devotion to his clients, and the high standard of ethics with which he practiced law and lived out in his everyday life. Despite his many professional accomplishments, he never sought or cared about receiving recognition. He was a true southern gentleman and enjoyed the high respect of his peers in the legal community. He had the increasingly rare ability to practice law cordially and professionally even in contentious matters, while tirelessly advocating for his clients - and obtaining excellent results. Indeed, his legal reputation was all the advertising he ever needed. Jerry was a devoted and loyal supporter of University of Georgia football, having attended games in Athens from his childhood with his father until recently when his health prevented it. His late father, Maurice Dorn Rothschild, was a letterman at UGA and was a financial guarantor of Sanford Stadium when it was being built in the late 1920s. Jerry was a member of the Rotary Club of Columbus for many years and a lifelong member of Temple Israel in Columbus. Jerry's wife, Constance, was the love of his life. She was completely devoted to him and stood by him as his primary caregiver through a lengthy and difficult illness. Jerry was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Maurice Dorn Rothschild and Elsie Julius Rothschild, and by his brother Elliot Julius Rothschild. He is survived by his devoted wife, Constance Rothschild and her son Jesse Richardson (Natalia); his two sons, Jerome Maurice Rothschild, Jr., of Columbus, himself an attorney and federal immigration judge, and Andrew Armstrong Rothschild of Columbus; his grandchildren, Graham Bowen Rothschild and Eleanor Armstrong Rothschild of Savannah, Georgia, and Pavel Pivarshev of Durham, North Carolina; his nephew and nieces, Wilson Rothschild, Stephanie Yost, Sandra McCabe, and Karen Rothschild; and a host of other loving relatives. The family would like to thank and extend its heartfelt gratitude to Columbus Hospice and to Freddie Lane, Jerry's tireless CNA and friend for the past 3 years; family friend Mamie Golden; and Melissa Hargett of Care Matters. As an expression of sympathy, the family welcomes donations to Columbus Hospice (7020 Moon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31909) or to Temple Israel (P.O. Box 5608, Columbus, Georgia 31906).
The service will be livestreamed through Striffler-Hamby Mortuary's website at www.shcolumbus.com.
To sign the online guest registry, please visit www.shcolumbus.com.