July 31, 2009 Subject: Gerry Bisaillon
Dear Friends and Family,
IT is sad news that I must deliver to you this morning. My father, Gerry Bisaillon passed away on Wednesday. Enclosed below is the obituary with the details on arrangements. Please forward this to anyone I may have missed.
---------------------------------------------------------------
BISAILLON, Gerald Edwin
April 16, 1940 - July 29, 2009
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle passed away peacefully at Kingston General Hospital on Wednesday, July 29, at 69 years old. He will be greatly missed by wife Joan (Candy), daughters Sherry (John Kennedy) and Carol, and son, Gerry (Stephanie Bisaillon). Grandfather to Nicklaus, Kaitlyn and Alexis. Son to Ruth (Goodfellow) and Gerard (predeceased), son-in-law to Austin and Irene (predeceased) Candy, brother to Robert and Ron (predeceased) and uncle to David, Lianne, Robert, Scott, Lynn, Gary, Brad, Jaime, Christopher and Andrea.
Gerry was an innovative entrepreneur who established various businesses over his lifetime. He was known for his exacting standards, but he also knew when and how to help and support family and friends. He will be remembered as generous and kind and for the genuine interest he took in people. He was a lifelong member of the Masons and Shriners.
Gerry was an avid fisherman and boater and enjoyed many other things such as travelling, hockey, cards and cribbage. He was immersed in the horse world for a time, supporting his daughters in Pony Club and importing horses from Europe.
Although he is no longer with us, he is ever near - he will live on in our hearts and in our memories.
Private family service on Saturday, August 1st, 2009. A celebration of his life for friends and family will be held on Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel in the Harbour Shadows Room (Kingston Harbourfront, 1 Johnston Street, Kingston) from 1:00-4:00pm. The family would appreciate any memorial donations in sympathy to the Shriner's Hospital in Montreal or to the UHKF, specifically the Regional Community Brain Injury Services (RCBIS) (366 King Street East, Suite 201, Kingston, ON, K7K 6Y3).
---------------------------------------------------------------
We have set aside a block of rooms at the Radisson Hotel in Kingston for anyone travelling from out of town.
Regards,
Gerry Bisaillon (Jr)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, August 05, 2009 11:36 AM
I’m sorry to send you such bad news, but I just learned that Jerry Cohen died early today in Oxford. I was told that he had a massive stroke and never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 5:00 AM in the hospital in Oxford.
Sholom and Susan Glouberman
---------------------------------------------------------------
![
Gerald Allan "Jerry" Cohen (1941 – 5 August 2009)

Gerald Edwin BISAILLON, April 16, 1940 - July 29, 2009
*** New: Jerry Cohen Article at guardian.co.uk ***
Times Online Obiturary for Jerry Cohen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Cohen
Here is a link to a recent talk by Jerry Cohen
Soryl Shulman Rosenberg: I just finished listening to Jerry's talk.
I felt it was almost a premonition of his own death.
I am keeping it on file as it is a wonderful memory of all that he was.
Montreal Gazette, Tuesday August 11, 2009
Obituary for Gerald Allan (Jerry) Cohen
COHEN, Gerald Allan (Jerry) On August 5, 2009. Son of the late Morrie and Bella Cohen, brother of Michael and the late David. He will be sorely missed by his wife Michele, his children Gideon, Miriam (Chris) and Sarah, stepchildren Alex and Natalie, and grandchildren Naomi, Talitha, Zacharia, Maria, Solomon, Anna and Harry, his brother Michael (Jennifer) and their children Natacha and Cassianne, and all his extended family. The funeral service will be Tuesday, August 11, at 4 p.m. at All Souls College, Oxford, England.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Soryl Shulman Rosenberg: Thanks Gerry for being at "command central" for these painful tasks. I also went to Guy Drummond with Gerry Bisaillon and that is where I knew him best. He was always pleasant and I was hoping that he would be at the reunion as I had such warm memories of him from elementary school. I only heard about his head injury as we were planning the reunion. I think it was incredible for his wife Joan to accept to come, knowing the arduous trip ahead. Her reward was that she was able to see how much he was loved. My respect and sympathy goes to Gerry's family for the love and caring during these last difficult years.
From Dr. MICHAEL PINTO-DUSCHINSKY (Oxford Professor on Politics and Government):
A tribute to Jerry Cohen - everyone's favourite Marxist and a brilliant philosopher to boot!
When I noted Boone's article above on the DEATH OF JERRY COHEN, I had a strong flash back with a VIVID MEMORY OF JERRY WORKING IN A Ste Agathe Hotel and telling me the worst possible result he would receive in his High School leaving exams. Of course he placed near the top of the Province. This is a tribute to Jerry from all who remember him:
I was so sad to read about Jerry's death. We spoke about Stephen when we last met at a retirement Shabbat dinner held in his honour at the Oxford Chabad Society. He sang a song from his Communist-Jewish primary school. He told me that an uncle of his had been sentenced to four years in jail in Canada for giving nuclear secrets to the Soviets, something that obviously seemed a natural thing to do in that community just after the War. Jerry's final lecture was a standing room only affair attended by hundreds (a friend put the number at 1000). He used the occasion to mimic the imagined voices of various famous philosophers, a real party performance.
He died of a stroke - a reminder of our mortality and, to me, to pay real attention to the diet. Much love, Michael
Paula Edelberg Schneider: I've been out of town and just opened my email. I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Jerry Cohen and Gerry Bisaillon. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to their families. Thank you for keeping me in the loop.
Lionel Chetwynd: Jerry Cohen was a remarkable person; while most were concerned with the lyrics of the latest Four Lads or Four Aces hit, Jerry was forming an elaborate world view from which he never derogated. That he held to it with humor and humanity set him apart from so many others and allowed him to touch the hearts of all who crossed his part. We were friends in the fifties, met later in London, and finally up at Oxford. He was a constant presence and an extraordinary mind who will long be remembered in his own field and beyond. He was a warm and decent man, taken from us too early. As for Yigal's question, "What's a Marxist analytical philosopher?" I offer Ronald Reagan's definition: "A Communist is someone who studies Marx and Lenin; an anti-communist is one who understands Marx and Lenin." Lest you think that inappropriate here, Jerry thought it hilarious -- the source notwithstanding.
Gerry Bisaillon was a superb person -- generous of spirit, his open smile an honest invitation to friendship. He was a "guy's guy" as I saw him, energetic, strong, daring, always willing to take on a challenge -- and to offer a helping hand to shorter, plumper classmates. I remember him warmly and know he, too, was taken too soon.
I mourn both their passing and offer condolences to their families and loved ones. May they find perfect peace.
And thank you, Rudy, for making this happen. You enrich us all.
Nan (Naomi) Schlesinger Wolfe: Since we all feel 19 inside, it is such a shock to hear about people of our own age who pass away, especially those we have known for such a long time. I want to offer my condolences to the families of Gerald and Jerry, and also Joel Hart, with whom I went to Jewish Peoples' School. They were all successful people who made a positive difference in the lives of others and it is such a tragedy that their lives were cut short.
And, thank you, Gerald, for compiling all these responses. I seem to remember that Outremont High teachers would not allow us to begin a sentence with "and."
Sammy Gewurz: I was very saddened to learn of Jerry's passing. We shared an apartment in fourth year McGill. It was a very impactful year for me. The capitalist vying for acceptance by a committed marxist. I already miss the loss of being able to continue the dialogue. My condolences.
Ellie Kornbluth Levine: Rudy, thank you for co-ordinating our responses. Our reunion was fun and touching and brought us back into each others’ lives for which we are clearly grateful.
Gerry Bisaillon and I liked each other a lot and were good friends at Strathcona and Outremont High. I was eager to see him and thrilled when I did. I told him so when I spent time with him at our reunion. I always loved the spelling of Gerry’s last name.
Jerry Cohen and I were not close between 1953 and 1957. He was brilliant, funny, academic. I was athletic and a cheerleader (I imagine that he would have had some witty and not complimentary comments about cheerleaders). We got to know each other as adults during the pre-reunion period. We exchanged many e-mails and we developed a loving closeness. We reminisced about all stages of our lives, each of us having suffered from some seriously difficult life experiences. (Don’t and didn’t we all have some! Of course). What prompted this I do not know but it happened and was satisfying to both of us. We looked forward to being together at the reunion and then the brunch. Some time after the reunion Jerry and his wife Michele were planning to be in Toronto. Jerry was the visiting Professor; he was going to give several lectures. I went and he was brilliant. I was proud to be his friend. My husband Paul and I offered to make a party for Michele and Jerry and their friends and colleagues the following Saturday night. Jerry and Michele accepted. Michele had to return home on Saturday so we switched it to Shabbat dinner on the Friday night. Unfortunately Michele had to rush home and missed the Shabbat dinner. It was a terrific evening. Susan and Sholom Glouberman, Marilyn Lightstone, my middle son, his wife and son were here. The rest of the guests were Jerry’s colleagues. We lit the Shabbat candles, sang Kiddush, said Hamotzy and then sang several Hebrew Shabbat songs – a traditional Shabbat in my home. We ate, told stories and reminisced about the teachers and the school. We ate a lot and laughed a lot. Jerry and I continued our friendship through email. A lot of our correspondence was in Yiddish. That was fun.
I am enjoying the tributes to Jerry and Gerry from members of our class and all those that I am reading from other sources.
I want to express my condolences to Jerry’s and Gerry’s families – a big loss for the families. I hope that their good memories will ease some of the sadness.
Elaine Nadler (Harris): Thank you Gerry for sharing the tributes to the 2 Jerrys (one with a G). Their deaths put us all on notice to cherish each day and with it enjoy those around us..both friends and family. What a privilege it was to gather again 2 years to be with so many with whom we shared special years. I knew Gerry Bisallon well. He and I for 2 years were Eaton's Jr. Council reps. His wife Candy was 1 year behind us. Also loved Mr. Jordan. He was in my Mother's class at Strathcona. He must have been about 93....not 68-69. Condolences to their families and to you all, cherish the moment.
Joyce Kessler Bellman: Thanks for letting us know. I had a good talk with him [Jerry] at the reunion and he told me to come and visit at Oxford as it was the best place to live. He obviously had much pleasure from his work and made such a difference. What a terrible loss!
David P. Leonard: It was a shock to hear of Jerry's death, especially since he was, apparently, in excellent health. It makes us stop and wonder about our own mortality. Jerry was always the "life of the party". In fact, he made the classroom a fun place to be. His passing will be a great loss to his family, friends, and the intellectual communities that he served.
Doreen Blackman Alrod: So very sorry to learn of the passing of Jerry Cohen & Gerry Bisaillon & extend deepest sympathy to both families. Thank you Gerry for keeping us all informed.
Greta Rosen: I am sorry to hear this news.
Donna Belitzky Kane: My deepest sympathies to the families of Jerry Cohen, Gerry Bisaillon and Herbert Jordan.
Eddy Shore [Shtull]: Very sad, seems like yesterday that we were at the reunion, listening to Jerry.
Yigal Horowitz: My brother - only a prominent Professor of Political Science (Emiritus) at the University of Toronto informs me that Jerry was a world-leading "Analytical Marxist Philosopher". Does anybody out there know what that means ??
Mark Lazare: Gerry Bisaillon was an accomplished entrepreneur, as well as a devoted father for two daughters and a son. He was a loyal husband of Joan, and I am glad that they were able to attend our 50th reunion.
Marcel Tuchner: Sorry to hear about this sad news. He was a wise and most learned man.
Mannie Young: A sad day. We can remember him for the brilliant person that he was. Never a dull moment in his presence. Howard Roiter came to the pharmacy on Wed and told me that he just attended the funeral of Mr. Jordan. How ironic that Jerry and Mr J. died the same week.
Martin Lubin: Martin Lu---bin: Jerry always "PAINTED THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE" "IF YOU WANT TO SING, GO JOIN THE CHOIR" [Beaton, Geometry class 1955]. "BUT YOUR NAME IS KARL MARX? NO! NO! NO! I'M NOT KARL MARX THE WRITER, BUT KARL MARX THE SCHOOMAKER! But HE [Senator Mccarthy] is the SUPREME power. [The Investigator, CBC 1954]. 403 St. Joseph Boulevard, West [corner Hutchison, near Edward Charles]."HIC.HAEC.HOC" [Ross, Latin class 1956] "NISHT DU FAHR VOS"[translation, please?].
Mark Lazare: Jerry's passing re-emphasizes how fragile life is, and makes me aware of how lucky we are to still be alive. Jerry was a very accomplished person, and his family should be proud of him.
Elaine Rapkin Goldstein: So sad. Sorry I never got to know him better. My loss. Everybody's loss.
Soryl Pofelis Soiferman: Jerry was always so quick and amazingly interesting - with a special take on us and our world. How good to have known him.
Sue Carol Guttman Isaacson: Now that I have calmed down after my initial reaction, I can offer a more fitting tribute to a special man amongst us, who not only made life fun for all those close to him, but infinitely changed the way people think through his many books and lectures. Throughout history there are but a few who stand out and leave their mark on mankind - Jerry was one of them. We who knew him were privileged. I offer sincere condolences to his family. May his wisdom and wit continue to be an inspiration.
[Gerry Bisaillon] 2 in one week - that is not good please send my condolences to the family, my memories of him were of a kind and gentle person. For me it has been 3 deaths, because Joel Hart died 2 weeks ago and I went to JPS with him- so maybe this will stop the roll
Harvey Finkelstein: Sorry to hear of Jerry's death. He will be missed.
Yigal Horowitz: It's a sign of the times that a lot of people knew Jerry but very few it seems could really appreciate his intellectual accomplishments (myself included). Anyway as a youngster of 16, I participated with Jerry in a high school debate - we were a team - he did very well, me less - I don't remember what the subject of the debate was or whether we won or lost.
Stanley Perel: Boruch Dayan Haemes .... did he have family? brother is richard , I think. email?
***gerald.cohen@all-souls.oxford.ac.uk******This address is rejected.
If anyone has a Cohen family email, please advise.
Stephen Silver: I am very sorry to learn of this. He was always a terrific fellow.
Judy Labow Wugalter: Last evening I happened to be with a cousin, Stephen Scott, who was at Oxford with Jerry. Stephen told me of Jerry's death, and I was saddened. Jerry had a great mind and used it. He also had a heart and a sense of humour. It was a privilege to hear him at our reunion. Judy
Allen Feldman: I am profoundly saddened by such awful news. It kind of makes one stop and think.
Rena Bercovitch Entus: So sorry to hear this [Jerry Cohen]. Once again, so sorry to hear of Gerry's death [Bisaillon]. How lucky we all were to be together at the reunion!
Mildred Hitzig and Jerry Ram: What sad news. He was a great guy. We've hit 70! Everyday is a gift.
Eva Kuper Rayman: Thank you Gerald for letting us all know this very sad news. He took with him his amazing mind and sense of humour and I am sure that he left many who mourn his passing. I have not had contact with Jerry but from what I remember of him, he would not have wanted to live had he been gravely impaired. [Gerry Bisaillon] I suggest that the "lesson" if there is one at all, is to make the most of each day granted to us.
Barry Perzow: Very sad. Pass on condolences….very fond memories of youthful camaraderie. Let's all hope that this old gang of our remembers each of us in similar ways...Hey...not rushing things, but we're all same age and getting up there when shit happens....will miss Cohen at our next 60th reunion?
Elaine Nadler Harris: Saddened to hear about Jerry. It was wonderful seeing him so happy at our 50th Reunion. He was one bright guy.
Harry Grief: Sorry to hear such sad news. Did you notice the obit in The Gazette last Saturday of the death of Jerry Bisaillon?
Harry Sperber: Sorry to hear about Jerry. I guess we will get more of these notices in the future sad to say.
Charles Roth: I am sorry about such sad news. I remember Jerry as a brilliant student already in Outremont High and then
at McGill. Was he still a professor at Oxford, married, family?
Harriet Smiley Rockow: So sorry to hear such sad news. I know that Jerry will be missed by many of us. Thanks for sharing. It is sad news but for those of us that he touched we will always have wonderful memories of the good times and his finest moments.
Soryl Shulman Rosenberg: I have goose bumps. He was so vital, bright, funny, interested and interesting, a twinkle in his eyes, full of laughter. What a loss to his family, the academic world and all who knew him.
p.s. Elaine Nadler is visiting Jerusalem right now.
David Gurberg: I am saddened to hear the news
Lazarus David Caplan: This was a sad week.
Faigie Rashcovsky Coodin: I'm still reeling from the news. I've known him since young teen, having shared camp and club experiences from an early age on...
Libby Segal Toulch: I was very saddened to hear of the deaths of Jerry Cohen and Gerry Bisaillon, two fine gentlemen.](TRIBUTES_TO_JERRY_COHEN_AND_GERALD_BISAILLON_files/shapeimage_1.png)
