Page 8 - Boca ViewPointe- January '20

Page 8, Viewpointe January 2020

Meet Your Neighbor: Zeraline “Jerri” Gesten

By Mort Mazor the next 20 years at West Palm Beach headquarters until
he passed in September 2015. The couple was married
Jerri, born in Newark, N. J. 94 years ago, is a bundle of 72 years.
activity every day at Stratford Court arranging poker games Every day at Stratford Court Jerri begins with breakfast
when she’s not busy working at the Lake Worth Flea Market with the many friends she has made and arranges the 1
three days each week. p.m. poker game with the men and women players.
At 18 years of age, after graduating from Weequahic High
School in Newark she was swept off her feet to become the bride Mort Mazor and his wife Lucille were West Delray
of Julius Gesten, nicknamed “Jack”, who was home on furlough residents for 27 years prior to relocating to Stratford
for a few days from duty with the Army Air Corps in 1943. Court, Boca Raton, Oct. 7, 2014. They celebrated their
“I was one of 9 children in my family, sheltered and protected 74th wedding anniversary March 20, 2019.
at home all my young life. Suddenly at 18 years of age I was Since 2008 he has written over 500 articles for the
married, and on a train alone bound for Battle Creek, Michigan weekly sections of the Sun-Sentinel. Current topics cover
where Julius was stationed. I had never been away from my “These portraits are my treasures,” said Jerri. senior’s outstanding achievements, wellness, and finance.
family in Newark,” said Jerri. “My husband taught me there Jerri and Julius began retirement as snowflakes in He retired in 2018 from teaching a weekly course in
was a world beyond Newark and how to enjoy life.” South Florida in 1979. Julius volunteered with the Palm Creative Writing began in 2002. The course continues at
Julius served from 1943 to 1944 when he received a medical Beach County Sheriff’s office, and was held in high Weisman Community Center, West Atlantic Ave. Delray
discharge because of health problems. regard for serving 15 years at Delray headquarters, and Beach every Monday, 1 to 3:00 pm. 
The couple set up housekeeping in Newark and raised
two boys and a daughter. Jerri worked as bookkeeper for the
wholesale merchandise business her husband established.
When Jerri was 25 she was named Ms. Polaroid by the Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc.
Polaroid Co. and hired to demonstrate the camera in Sears’ stores.
Julius introduced Jerri to poker. They visited Las Vegas 6909 SW 18th St., Suite A120 A special Thank You to our monthly volunteer contributing writers
Boca Raton, FL 33433
every two weeks on V. I. P. junkets to unwind and enjoy poker Office (561) 395-7551 Fax (561) 395-5936 Steve Handwerker Halli Moore Judy Goldstein
action. “My husband made a gambler out of me,” she said with Email: info@bocapointe.com Arlene Rodman Harold Katz Frank Weinstock
a wry smile. Today, the game provides her with pleasure several Website: www.bocapointe.com Bob Kronish Harriet Rubin Lin Schader
days each week at Stratford Court. BTW anyone interested in Access Control Mort Mazor Jack Kulick Justin Mocha
playing, call Jerri at 561-716-5942. Operator: (561) 395-3392 Arthur Kravitz Elaine Rubinson Barry J. Haberman
Anne Gannon
Peter Sachs
Judith Levy
The family grew to three grandsons and one great grandson. Voice mail system: (561) 395-3369 Dr. Ronald J. Meyers Elyse Weintraub Brown Steven L. Abrams
One grandson, Jordan Sokol, 40, the offspring of daughter Website: www.gateaccess.net Lisa Sileo Helen Karpel Rochelle Wilensky
Maxine Sokol, is a world renowned portrait artist who studied in Staff Rayna Becker Hillary Reynolds Sheila M. Cooperman
Florence, Italy for 14 years. When he returned to live in Jersey Kathleen O’Donovan, General Manager Lori Deibel Oris Martin
City, The Florence, Italy Academy of Arts built an art school Lisa Cammaleri, Assistant Manager George Steinman Robert Weinroth
in Jersey City to honor him and provide a permanent facility Yvonne Rivera, Administrative Assistant The views of the writers of the various articles in this newspaper do not
for him to teach there. He also travels the world to lecture on Justin Mocha, Director of Security necessarily reflect the views of the Boca Pointe Community Association.
art. His wife Amaya, a talented artist in her own right teaches Viewpointe of Boca Pointe is the newspaper The Association nor the individual writers are not responsible for claims
at the Academy with Jordan. of Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc. or promises contained in any advertising material appearing in the
Appearing in the photo of Jerri with this article are the Jordan Please direct all questions, comments or Viewpointe. Such claims and promises are the sole responsibility of the
Sokol portraits of 21 year old Julius and 16 year old Jerri rendered articles for Viewpointe to lisa.cammaleri@ individual advertiser.
fsresidential.com.
by Jordan from photographs of the couple in their youth.