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Judge Jerry

Wagner

Obituary

Judge Jerry Wagner of Bloomfield age 88, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. Jerry Wagner had been a judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut since 1979 and served on the Judicial Executive Committee and the Executive Board of the Connecticut Judges’ Association. He became a judge trial referee in 1991 and had become the oldest active referee in the Hartford Judicial District. Born in New Haven, the son of Nathan and Clara Themper Wagner, he was educated at Hillhouse High School, Yale University, and Harvard Law School. After a brief period of private practice in New Haven, and service in various governmental posts in Washington, D.C. including the United States Dept. of Housing, he came to the Hartford area to practice law with Ribicoff and Kotkin in 1953. He established his own law practice in Bloomfield in 1956 and was a senior partner in the firm of Wagner, Beck, and Pinney until 1979. A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he served as State Representative and Town Attorney for Bloomfield, on the Bloomfield Redevelopment Commission, and Chairman of the Bicentennial Commission. A past president of the Wintonbury Historical Society, he wrote a pamphlet on the political history of Bloomfield and was an editor of “From Wintonbury to Bloomfield” published in 1983. A volunteer fireman for over twenty years, he worked with children as Chairman of the Y.M.C.A., Youth in Government Assembly, and for many years served on the Career Advisory Committee at Bloomfield High School. He had been an instructor in Legal Ethics at UCONN Law School, a founder of the Capital Region Library Association, and served as a Special Assistant in the Washington headquarters of the Hubert Humphrey presidential campaign. He was prominent in Bar activities, serving as Legislative Chairman, and on the Ethics Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association and on the Board of the Hartford County Bar Association, and the Harvard Law School Association of Connecticut. In 1971, he appeared before the United States Supreme Court in the case of Tilton v. Richardson. Judge Wagner had been active in Jewish communal and religious affairs, both locally and nationally, serving as chairman of the Social Action Committee of the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism and was an honorary vice-president. He had served as national vice-president of the American Jewish Congress, the United Synagogue of America, and the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council. In Greater Hartford, he served as president of the Hartford Jewish Community Center, chairman of the Commission on Jewish Education, president of the Jewish Historical Society, president of the Midrasha Hebrew High School and president of Beth Hillel Synagogue. He served as vice-chairman of the Hartford Jewish Federation, Secretary of the World Council of Synagogues, and on the National boards of the Hillel Foundation, the Jewish Publication Society of America, the National Yiddish Book Center, and Boston Hebrew College. He chaired several committees of the Council of Jewish Federations and was a delegate to numerous international assemblies including those in Israel and Europe on behalf of Soviet Jewry. He served on the board of the Hillel Foundation at the University of Connecticut, and more recently, on the boards of Trinity College Hillel and the Greenberg Center at the University of Hartford as well as the Yale Club of Hartford. For many years he was an officer of the Harry E. Johnson Post of the American Legion and chaired the annual Memorial Day observances in Bloomfield for over 25 years. He was also a member of the American Judicature Society, Hiram Lodge AF&AM, Arrarat Lodge of B’nai Brith, Laurel Post of the Jewish War Veterans, and the Connecticut Historical Society. While in the 1959 legislature, he was an active proponent of our state laws prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment and education, and in the creation and expansion of the Commission of Human Rights and opportunities, as well as the establishment of the full time circuit court. He was a candidate for State Senate in 1966 and 1978, and served as counsel for the Senate Majority in 1967-68. As chairman of the Hartford Chapter of the American Jewish Congress and the Connecticut Jewish Community Relations Council, he took a leading role in Project Concern, an interfaith effort to promote fairness and integration in education, as well as the Coalition of Conscience, which aimed at improving relations between the Jewish and African American communities. He was a moderator for the Oak Park Conference in Bloomfield and for many years was a convening member of the Greater Hartford Urban Religious Coalition. In 1961, he was named as one of the outstanding young men in Connecticut by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and was honored with the Isaiah Award of the Hartford Jewish Federation (1973), the B’nai Brith Humanism Award (1980), the NAACP Human Rights Award (1994), the Oliver Filley Award of the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce (2001), The Touro Synagogue of Newport, RI Memorial Award for Religious Freedom and Tolerance (2001), The Yale Club of Hartford Nathan Hale Award (2003), The Carol Rosenwald Award (Nursing Home Resident Councils 2004), and the Lions Club Leadership Award (2007). He was married to Sally Hurvitz Wagner for 63 years, prior to her death in 2013, and leaves his three children, Jonathan Wagner (married to Lena) of Brooklyn NY, Paula Baram (married to David Baram) of Bloomfield, and Michael S. Wagner (married to Laura) of West Springfield, MA; and his grandchildren, Daniel and Mathew Baram and Rachel and Abigail Wagner, Arik Wagner and two great grandchildren. His brother, Harry Wagner of Delray, Florida, and a sister, Sara Schwartz, of New Haven, predeceased him. An amateur bookbinder, he has restored books for many individuals and libraries including the Hartford County Bar Library. He instituted in 2008, the annual practice of reading major sections of the Declaration of Independence at a timely town green concert. Funeral services will held at 10: a.m. Friday, October 3, 2014 at Beth Hillel Synagogue, 160 Wintonbury Avenue Bloomfield, CT. Interment will follow in Beth Hillel Synagogue Cemetery, Wolcott Rd., East Granby. In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to any of the following; The Bloomfield Center Volunteer Fire Company, 18 Wintonbury Avenue Bloomfield, CT 06002, Beth Hillel Synagogue160 Wintonbury Avenue Bloomfield, CT 06002, The Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies, University of Hartford , 200 Bloomfield Ave. W. Hartford, CT 06117-1599. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford.

Guest Book For

Judge Jerry Wagner

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From: steven jeweler

From new market, md

Posted On: December 26, 2014

I remember Jerry with affection and respect - always knowing he was above and beyond in education, professionalism and kindness. Above all, Jerry was a family man. I am proud to have had Jerry and Sally as cousins and will remember them both.

Steven Jeweler, son of Diana Shapiro Jeweler, grandson of Bella and Harry Shapiro.

From: Emeline Jacobs

From Old Saybrook, CT

Posted On: October 1, 2014

He was a great friend to my father, Bert Gaster. He will surely be missed.

From: ARTHUR A. GANDELMAN

From BLOOMFIELD, CT

Posted On: October 1, 2014

I WILL MISS YOU ESPECIALY ON SHABBAT MORNINGS.

From: Rabbi Ilana Garber

From West Hartford, Ct

Posted On: October 2, 2014

So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and sending comfort. Hamakom yinachem.
-- the Garber/Berkowitz family

From: Deborah goldberg

From West Hartford, CT

Posted On: October 1, 2014

We are so sorry for your loss. May our father's memory always be a blessing. Much love from Deb, Lance and Barak Goldberg

From: Cindy Chazan and Jay Leipzig

From West Orange, NJ

Posted On: October 2, 2014

Jerry was always our conscience and reminded us never to forget our core values and mission. He will be missed, Cindy and Jay

From: Scott H Kaplan

From Atlanta, GA

Posted On: October 2, 2014

It was my honor and privilege to co-chair the United Synagogue Commission on Social Action and Public Policy with Judge Jerry for several years. He was at all times a champion for human rights and dignity, and became my personal role model in the area of public service.

There are stars in the universe whose light reaches the Earth long after they have been extinguished. The light created and maintained by Judge Jerry during his lifetime will illuminate the Earth long after his passing showing us all the path to goodness and righteousness.

How fortunate we all are that Judge Jerry lived and served among us.

Scott H. Kaplan

From: Raymond Wiezalis

From Wethersfield, CT

Posted On: October 2, 2014

Judge Wagner was one of the finest members of the Connecticut Judiciary that I had the pleasure to work with for the past 40 years. He had a great legal mind and his decisions were always well researched and articulate. Moreover he was a true gentleman and friend, proud of his profession and his religion. He was always available to share his experience with others, through professional discussions or just amiable chats. He will be missed by all.

From: Susan Kessler

From Northbrook, IL

Posted On: October 2, 2014

Jerry Wagner was an inspiration to all, and a dear friend to my father, Irving, and all our family. Our heartfelt condolences to Jonathan, Paula, and Michael and all the family.

From: Lawrence G. Widem

From West Hartford, Connecticut

Posted On: October 2, 2014

I well recall Jerry telling the story that he was a young lawyer, just getting started in Hartford, when he received a telephone call from Mel Katz's father, inviting him to get involved in Jewish community life. At one time Jerry served on some 26 different Boards. He told me that he always tried to have dinner at home and then he would be off to one and sometimes two or three meetings a night. When he spoke on a issue or problem it was from the heart and with a deep understanding of the history and consequences. His approach may not have carried the day, every time, but it was always well reasoned and based upon a sense of compassion for others. He was quite a guy.

Beth and I send out heartfelt condolences.

From: Rabbi Moshe Edelman

From riverdale, ny

Posted On: October 2, 2014

Dear family

For my 19 years at the united synagogue i had the ongoing honor of knowing the judge. As a distinguished leader, Jew and really smart guy he often had insight and wisdom before the others present. He served on the Committee of Congregation Standards which I directed for more than 16 years. I always knew where to go to get a correct answer. Zecher Tzadik L'vracha... Moshe Edelman

From: Cynthia Bercowetz

From Bloomfield, Ct. 06002

Posted On: October 2, 2014

My memories of Judge Jerry Wagner are of a wonderful professional person. He always spent time with my late parents,and my husband, Herman Bercowetz. My deep condolences. Cynthia Bercowetz.

From: David Jacobs

From West Hartford, CT

Posted On: October 2, 2014

Jerry Wagner personified the best of leadership. He was generous with his time, expertise and resources. He was a passionate advocate for for causes that he held dear. We were blessed by Jerry's contributions to our community. He will be missed.

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