Obituary of Gerald Shrager

Gerald “Jerry” Shrager Colonie, New York Jerry Shrager passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with various ailments. He was born Dec. 20, 1929 to Gertrude and Solomon Shrager in Brooklyn, NY, where he lived until moving his family upstate to the Albany County village of Voorheesville in 1967. He and his wife, Muriel, later wintered in Delray Beach, Florida, and summered at the Beltrone Senior Apartments in Colonie, NY. Jerry was a graduate of City College of New York. He began his career in New York State government as a tax examiner with the Department of Taxation and Finance. He then joined the Office of the State Comptroller as an accountant in the Field Audit Bureau and through successive promotions became the Director of Contracts and State Expenditures. He held this position for seventeen years and was responsible for review and approval of all state contracts in excess of $1 million. Jerry was a Certified Internal Auditor and a member of the Albany Chapter Institute of Internal Auditors. He concluded his State service with a promotion to an Assistant Deputy Comptroller, a position he held until his retirement. Jerry earned a reputation for his impeccable ethics and pragmatism in both his professional and personal life. He served as a mentor and counselor, usually mixing advice and pearls of wisdom with his trademark humor. Over the years, Jerry enjoyed playing pinochle, poker, cribbage and golf and once hit a hole in one. For a number of years he also served as a volunteer with the Voorheesville fire department. During retirement he enjoyed woodworking, making personalized clocks for special people in his life. He also took up ceramics and proudly gifted his many creations to family and friends. Jerry also enjoyed going to Saratoga Race Course and following the thoroughbreds. He was a member of Congregation Ohav Shalom in Albany for nearly 50 years. Jerry and Muriel were married on May 3, 1953. She passed away in September 2008 after 55 years of marriage. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Raymond Gikofsky, and sisters Lila Baron, Gertrude Levine and Dorothy Glick. A loyal and loving cadre of aides, Ashley, Sharon, Linda, Brenda and Bonnie, were essential to Jerry’s well-being and comfort and became part of his extended family. Special thanks to Dr. Kevin Costello and to Gayle Durivage, RN of the Eddy VNA. Jerry is survived by his three children and their spouses, Barbara and Jim Lombardo of Saratoga Springs, Steven and Lynda Shrager of Slingerlands, and Robin and Jeff Suitor of Delmar, and his five grandchildren, David Lombardo, Joseph Lombardo, Leslie Shrager, Samantha Shrager and Rachel Suitor, all of whom were his pride and joy. He is also survived by his sister, Selma Mendelsohn, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The funeral service will be held at Congregation Ohav Shalom, 113 New Krumkill Road, Albany, NY at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22. Interment will follow at the Ohav Shalom Cemetery on Church Road in Guilderland immediately following the service. A period of mourning will be observed at 70 Surrey Mall, Slingerlands, on Sunday and Monday from 7PM - 9PM. On Tuesday and Wednesday the Shiva will continue at 79 Wisconsin Ave, Delmar, between the hours of 7PM – 9PM. A service will take place each of those four nights at 7:30PM. Contributions are welcome in Jerry’s memory to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, 103 Patroon Drive #10, Guilderland, NY 12084.