Dr. Gerard Rothschild
October 25, 1928 ~ February 26, 2019
Resided in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Dr. Gerard Harry Rothschild, formally of Boone, NC and currently of Asheville, NC, middle son of the late Ludwig and Hildegard Strauss Rothschild, was born in Heidelberg, Germany on October 25, 1928 and passed away at the Givens Estates Health Care Center on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.
Dr. Rothschild emigrated with his family to the United States when he was seven years old. After spending two years in New York City, his family moved to Greenville, SC. After graduating from Greenville Senior High, he matriculated to Emory University where he majored in experimental psychology. During the Korean War, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force where he served four years at Randolph Army Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas doing psychological research. Upon his honorable discharge as Staff Sergeant, he enrolled at The Johns Hopkins University and received a doctoral degree in Psychology. On the first day of classes, he met his future wife, Judith Rice, whom he married on June 16, 1956. He held academic appointments at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, The Johns Hopkins University Medical School, Boston University Graduate School, and was a fellow at Harvard University.
As a founding member of the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, he was well known for his storytelling and shared many of his adventures with the fellowship and others. He appreciated classical music and enjoyed listening to his favorite composer, Johannes Brahms. He was an accomplished amateur chef and throughout his life he accumulated over 400 cookbooks. He was a member of the Watauga County Arts Council and the Boone Kiwanis Club. He was an avid traveler and enjoyed visiting many different countries and tasting the local cuisines. He was accepting of all faiths and loved making connections with others and did so up until his last days.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dr. Judith Rice Rothschild of Asheville; daughter, Julia Rothschild Gidney and her husband Dr. Mark Gidney of Frisco, CO; granddaughter, Davis Cecilia Gidney of Denver, CO; step granddaughter, Lisa Gidney Redman, her partner Elizabeth West and two step great-grandsons, Landrum and Aydan Redman of West Jefferson, NC. Dr. Rothschild is also survived by his two brothers; Alfred Frank Rothschild of San Marino, CA and younger brother Herbert Fred Rothschild of Isle of Palms, SC, and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Dr. Rothschild's life will be held Sunday, March 24, 2019 at 2:00 pm in the Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates, 100 Wesley Drive, Asheville, NC 28803. Reception following.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 381 E. King Street, Boone, NC 28607. His body has been bequeathed to the medical school at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill for research.
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Dear Judy,
I am so sorry to hear that Gerry has passed. I so enjoyed spending Kiwanis time with you both when you were in Boone. My prayers for peace and comfort are with you and your family. Love, Susan Jones
Judy: we shared many wonderful moments together in Boone. Please accept my sincere condolences. Blessing and prayers for you and Jerry.
sonny
Dear Judy and Family,
We offer our most heart-felt condolences. Gerry was such a lovely, kind person and we are honored to have known him.
Respectfully,
Dear Judith,
Jack and I are saddened to hear of Gerry’s passing. We have many fond memories of you both, but most particularly the lunch we shared two summers ago in Asheville. With our boys, we send you and your family our deepest sympathies and prayers that you will be surrounded by love and sustaining memories. With love and affection, Alexandra and all the Hellenbrands
Julia, On behalf of your father’s 1st cousin who is six months younger, we’re so sorry to hear about Jerry’s death. Cousin Henry treasured his time with Jerry. The boys left Germany just within a few years of each other. Jerry and his family coming to America at 7 and Henry a few years later at 10 years of age. They had so much in common as German Jewish refugees trying to adapt and make a life in a new country. Both were married over 60 years; served in the US military and gave back so much to their adopted land. I always new that the two of them had a special bond. Especially since Jerry’s cousin, Henry was an only child. Julia, you and your family should have beautiful memories of a wonderful soul. May God grant cousin Jerry eternal peace. The Freudenbergs will miss him.
Dear Judith,
I’m so sorry to read that you have lost your life partner. May you find comfort in the many, many fond memories you have of your times with him.
Kate
Dear Judy and Julia,
So sorry to hear about Gerry passing away today. I hope he was comfortable in the end. I know you both and Davis will miss him greatly. Needless to say I have happy memories of Gerry in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was always so kind to me when I lived in Baltimore. My mother has special childhood memories with Gerry, Al and Herb.
I will try my best to attend the service on March 24th.
Hugs and lots
Renee, Kenneth and Ziri.
So kind to me and my family…A true gentleman.
My Dear Dr. Judith, You and Gerald are in my heart forever. You and I had so much fun at Dr. Davant’s office. I would see you and Gerald would be coming in and it changed my day, from sunny to spectacular. Seeing Gerald’s picture in the paper, I thought he had written another cook book. Sadly, it wasn’t. I’m giving you the biggest hug, ever. I love you and always have. Be at peace, Gerald. You were a wonderful human.
Love you,
Susan Maples Brannen
Judy and Julia, I am so very sorry to learn of your beloved husband and dad’s passing. Although it has been years since contact, I am blessed with many years of wonderful memories of the three of you, here in Boone and especially in the DFLL at ASU. May God’s grace and peace beyond all understanding be with you and your family.
Gerry and Judy were two of my favorite people during their many years in Boone. Their warmth, intelligence, commitment and dedication are still remembered in so many areas in this community. Sending my love.
We will miss him so. We have many happy memories at BUUF and other events. Love to Judy and the family!
A remarkable gifted and wonderful human being. I feel so fortunate to have known him. He was such a gift to our community. Love to Judy and the family.
I loved getting to know Jerry and Judy at BUUF and especially loved the services he gave talking about his childhood and of how he met Judy. He was also great about organizing social events for the Fellowship. He was a very funny man and always very kind to our family. I have obligations at the church on the day of his memorial service and then a flight to catch, but please give my condolences to Judy. We remember them both fondly.
Love and prayers to all Judith and all the family. The world has lost a good man.
Sue Counts
Gerry has touched so many lives! I always walked away after a conversation with Gerry feeling that I was listened to completely and most often learned something about him and/or the world that deepened my understanding and appreciation of life! He will be missed.
I consider Jerry to be one of the finest people I have ever met. I loved our time together at the UU Fellowship in Boone. Fortunately, I was able to maintain contact when he and Judy moved to Asheville, and I moved to Tampa. Some of my favorite BUUF memories have Jerry’s humor at the center. I especially remember his love of giving gag gifts. He once gave me a copy of a book that he knew I would dislike. I saved it and gave it back to him at the next tasteless gift event. His humor combined with his kindness to others made a positive difference on all who knew him. Give my love to Judy, Julia, and Mark.
We were shocked to learn of Jerry’s death. We have fond memories of our visits. Our deepest condolences to you and your famiky.
So very sad to learn of this wonderful man’s passing. He was a truly great human being but was an even better neighbor. He loved my children and loved my dogs and we have missed him dearly since his move from Boone. Always a kind and joyful salutation would come from him whenever you saw him. Prayers and thoughts to his family and friends today as they grieve his passing.
Judy, you and Jerry have been loyal and steadfast supporters of arts and humanities programming at Appalachian State University for so many years– as well as dear friends and admired mentors. Jerry’s warm and generous spirit will live on, in the lives and memories of all he touched and inspired. Sending love and warmest wishes to you and your family from all of us at Appalachian.
Chère Judy,
C’est avec une immense tristesse que Mireille et moi avons appris le décès de Jerry. Au moment où nous vous souhaitons d’avoir la force de surmonter cette période de grande douleur, recevez, chère amie, nos condoléances et nos sentiments de regret les plus sincères.
In Celebration of the Life of Dr. Gerald H. Rothschild and the Great Spirit that guided him throughout his journey on planet Earth.
Thank you for the Lifelong Family Friendship we had with you Jerry.
With Appreciation, Eira, her late husband Nils, and their son, Nils Eric Mattsson
I hope you remember me from French classes at Appalachian, although it seems a lifetime ago. It was with amazement I found you living no more than a couple of miles from me in beautiful Asheville. But it is with sadness that I heard about your loss. I hope this note finds you coping well. Much love and thoughts to you and your family.
Your family will fall and the world will expose it before any order is done, I’ve done enough research and won’t stop til every member quits. Federal reserve will also shut down before it is ever corrupted.