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Who was Jerry? If you're reading this, you likely know at least some of what is written here about this unforgettable human being. Jerry was born Lewis Gerald Hulman on July 26, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the first child of Leah and Charles Elliot Hulman.
His family moved to Rock Island, Illinois and eventually settled in Davenport, Iowa, where he spent most of his childhood with his parents and his younger sister Susan, who was born when Jerry was seven.
With a shock of red, curly hair and a penchant for mischief, “Jerry” was what he was called when he was not in trouble as a child. When he was in trouble, he was Lewis and if he was in really big trouble, he was Lewis Gerald.
Jerry left for Iowa State at 18 with the idea of perhaps being an architect. He realized architecture was not his calling and he switched schools and tracks, earning a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Iowa. He had many jobs as he worked his way through college, most notably in the dining hall at the Jewish sorority. He also famously plucked chickens, reset bowling pins and allowed chiropractic students to practice adjustments on him.
One of the sorority sisters where Jerry worked was Janie, who would later become his wife. Janie was born Jeanette Sally Siegel and came to the University of Iowa from Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was a smartly dressed college coed who was a couple years older than Jerry and as the family story goes, proposed to him, and paid for their marriage certificate.
Janie earned her degree in English and began teaching seventh graders. Jerry and Janie married in June of 1957, just as Jerry was graduating college with his engineering degree. They began their nomadic life tied to Jerry’s work for the Federal Government, first for the Army Corps of Engineers, then the Atomic Energy Commission (later renamed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission), and the Department of Energy. As a safety official, Jerry traveled extensively both within the US and abroad. In Bethesda, he managed a large branch of staff. A dashing photo of him swearing in before testifying at an October, 1988 congressional hearing about the restart of the Savannah River Nuclear power plant made the front page of the New York Times. Jerry retired early from the government, consulted for the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and then spent a few years in private industry in Pasadena, California in the early 1980s before returning to the Washington area for another stint at the Department of Energy. After retiring for a second time from the Federal Government, Jerry did some consulting, including for the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Jerry’s career took their growing family to Philadelphia, back to Iowa City for a graduate degree, Cinnaminson, New Jersey, Citrus Heights, California, Montgomery County, Maryland, Pasadena California, and then back to Montgomery County.
In less than three years, Joni, Jeff and Julie were born.
Jerry made friends easily and often at the Jewish Community Center, Temple Emanuel, the workplace, in his neighborhoods and wherever he went. He frequently opened his home to people that were new in the office and new to town, inviting them to family dinners. It was around the dinner table that the famous family question, “How many meatballs does the book say you can have?” was born. Friends were very important to him, and he did whatever he could to maintain his friendships, some lasting from his childhood. His friendship with Bernie Katz, whom he met at a Jewish youth group during his high school days lasted his whole life, both being best men at each other’s weddings. Many of Jerry’s friends passed away before him, but he always remembered them and spoke of them fondly
He was always happy to help out. In recent years, Jerry taught an AARP safe driving skills course over 180 times in the DC area for AARP, taught basic computer skills to seniors, and hosted web events for Oasis, an educational program for seniors. He often diagnosed and fixed his friends’ computer problems.
When it came to his family, he was an amazing father, father-in-law, grandfather and great grandfather, son-in-law, brother, uncle, and great uncle. If you needed something, whether it was someone to talk to about something or someone to actually get their hands dirty and help you, Jerry was the first to volunteer. Jerry spent hours with Janie’s mother, Sarah, when she was in the Hebrew Home. Sarah had Alzheimer’s and was no longer the sharp-witted woman she was when she was younger, but it was a way to sit closely together and connect, and Jerry would patiently polish her nails every week. Every phone conversation with Jerry included him asking, “Is there anything I can do for you?” and he meant it. He was always encouraging about new pursuits and often said, “You can do anything you want if you try hard enough.”
Jerry was the family genealogist and made sure his kids knew as much as he knew about the family’s roots. He always enjoyed bringing family together for big occasions. He was definitely the catalyst for almost all extended family reunions, helping his children and grandchildren solidify close relationships with their Chicago cousins.
When Joni, Jeff and Julie were kids, the family drove each summer from wherever they were living to Iowa to see grandparents in Council Bluffs and Davenport. Jerry, being a hydraulic engineer was very interested in dams, and they saw “every damn dam” he could find along the way. He was keen about hobbies, like sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and restoring antique and classic cars, always trying to get his kids involved.
In retirement, Jerry took up the banjo and was very enthusiastic for his grandkids to play along with him. It rubbed off on Jake, who learned some banjo also, and Helly who played the flute. He once convinced both kids to form a musical trio with him and perform at a Temple talent show where they played Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Jerry was “Grandpa” to Jake and Helly and “Paco” to Mark and Mike, but no matter what name he went by, he was always a very fun and involved grandfather. Jake and Helly always chuckle when they think about Grandpa's "workouts" at the JCC gym—consisting of a lot of walking around visiting with everybody and very little exercise. For his 60th birthday, Jerry invited the family on a Warner Bros. cruise where everyone had a ton of fun. An avid racquet sports fan, Jerry took the kids to play tennis at the courts near his home, swearing them to secrecy about his tennis “secret weapon.” Also recalled are the classic car shows Jerry enjoyed with his kids and grandkids. Every year at Hanukah, Jerry would assign Jake and Helly the educational and fun task of counting and rolling hundreds of dollars of coins to take to the bank and turn into paper money, which he claimed was spare change he’d collected throughout the year. It was many years into this tradition that his grandkids learned that Jerry went to the bank and turned cash into rolled coins for this activity. Jake is very thankful for his Grandma and Grandpa insisting on paying for his law school studies – it took immense pressure off him.
Jerry and Jane continued to travel, seeing many beautiful places in this country, including National Parks, Alaska, and Hawaii, and went abroad together to England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Everywhere they went, they met new people with whom they’d keep in touch over the years.
Jerry took his grandkids Jake and Helly, on long road trips to the Midwest to see his parents and to Atlanta, to see Joni, Murray, Mark, and Mike. On the way they would listen to “Grandpa’s drinking songs” on repeat and came home with the bawdy lyrics memorized. Those trips were memorable parts of childhood.
Shortly before Janie passed away, Jerry and Janie celebrated a wonderful 50 years of marriage by gathering friends and family from around the country in Washington, DC for a weekend of festivities.
Jerry continued to keep in close touch with family, including Janie’s relatives, after she was gone.
Unlike many men of his era, Jerry was not afraid of the kitchen, and he had many favorite dishes he liked to cook, including brisket, chili, sausage soup, and chicken soup.
After Janie’s passing, Jerry and Joan developed a close relationship and Jerry enjoyed traveling, dining out, attending concerts, shows and spending time with her for many years. During those years, they got to know each other’s families well.
Jerry went by many names including Lewis, Jerry, Dad, Grandpa, Paco, Uncle Jerry, and more recently Great Grandpa Jerry. He cherished us all and we cherish him.
He was a unique and unforgettable person, and we are forever blessed and changed by his presence in our lives.