Longtime NYFWA friend Jerry Goldstein, director of the Financial Follies for several decades, passed away May 5, at the age of 91. His funeral was held on May 6, at 12:45 p.m. at Sinai Chapels, 162-05 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, New York.
Jerry was an energetic, sometimes frenetic musician with a Catskills sense of humor, sparkling eyes, and an encyclopedic knowledge of old show tunes. He poured his heart into the Financial Follies year after year, coaxing music and comedy out of amateurs for whom the Follies were as close to Broadway stardom as they would ever get. He began directing the Follies in the mid-1960s and his last year directing the show was 2004. Over the years he also directed other shows, taught music and played the piano for his own pleasure. Chopin–rarely heard on the Follies stage–was a favorite.Jerry was the president of the first graduating class of the High School of Music and Art. In World War II he served in the China-Burma-India theater of operations. His dear wife, Adele, predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter, Jamie Frey, and son, Louis Goldstein. He also leaves five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Sympathy cards to the family of Jerry Goldstein may be sent to his daughter:
Jamie Frey
10517 Sunlit Rd
Oakton VA 22124
Donations in Jerry’s name may be made to LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts via this link: https://alumniandfriends.org/give
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