Solomon Jack Guberman

Life Story

Solomon Jack Guberman, 85, died January 26, 2019 in Melbourne, FL. Jack was born on April 1, 1933 in the Bronx, NY, to Irving and Frances Needleman Guberman, the eldest of five siblings.

Jack graduated from Forest Hills High School, Queens, NY in 1951. He served in the US Army, stationed in Germany.  He married his first wife, Edith, in 1957; they had three children--Michael, Ronald, and Jodi. After working in his father's dry cleaning business for a few years, Jack returned to college on the GI Bill, graduating from Queens College, NY, in 1966 with a BA in History and in 1969 with an MS in Education.  Jack taught social science classes, including senior electives in psychology, anthropology, and comparative religion, at Patchogue-Medford (LI) High School for many years. He would often dress up as historical figures and otherwise enliven his classes and engage his students. His adventurous spirit led him to bring his young family on an 8-week tour of Europe in the summer of 1972. In 1975, he brought the family to Israel for his sabbatical year, where he studied at Tel Aviv University.

After he and Edith divorced, he met Phyllis. They married in 1985 and he became a stepparent to her two young children.  In 1986, Jack retired from teaching and did some counseling. In 1990, Jack and Phyllis relocated to NC, first to New Bern, and later to Wilmington, which they considered their new "home," and where they made many friends.  During this time Jack taught at the local community college. Always passionate about social justice issues, he wrote many letters to the editor of the Wilmington newspaper. And always ready for an adventure, they took numerous "road trips" around the US, including a 6-week camping trip to Canada and Alaska, several trips abroad, and an unforgettable trip to Brazil and the Amazon. During these years, they spent part of every summer at Eagle Lake campground, near Scranton, PA.  The family would have many humorous stories and fond memories of the fun they shared there.

After Phyllis retired in 2013, they moved to suburban St. Louis, MO, to be near grandchildren.  This gave Jack a chance to see his beloved Cardinals baseball team in action. He had been an avid fan since childhood, and enjoyed being enmeshed in the "baseball culture" so prevalent in the area.   More travel included a Danube River cruise and a hot air balloon ride in Arizona.

Two years later, the MO family moved overseas, and it was time to get back to the ocean.  In 2015, Jack and Phyllis moved to Melbourne, FL to be near family again. By this time, Jack's health had begun to decline and traveling was curtailed greatly, the last hurrah being a jaunt to Glasgow, Scotland, in 2017.  He also had to give up his hobbies of cooking, gardening, and reading. He still enjoyed engaging people in conversation, however, and often would call friends and family members just to chat.

Jack was a proud 35-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous, where he had made many friends over the years. And while he was proud of his Jewish heritage, in later years he found that Unitarian Universalism was where his heart lay.  He participated in these interests as his health would allow.

In July 2018, Jack's COPD became severe enough to require hospice care at home.  Even then, he was able to attend UU services, AA meetings, and the occasional concert or lunch out.

Jack died at home, his wife, daughter, and stepdaughter at his side, along with the hospice nurse.  He is no longer struggling to breathe.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, son Ron (Denise) of Armonk, NY; daughter Jodi Pessenda of Delray Beach, FL; stepdaughter Ann Fogarty of Rochester NY; stepson Brian Fogarty (Stephanie) of Glasgow, Scotland; seven grandchildren, who called him "Zaydee"--Tomas, Nick, Joshua, Alec, Lillie, Sophie, and Kyan; a soon-to-be born great-grandchild; sister Estelle Simes of Margate, FL.  Sadly, he is predeceased by his son Michael (2016) and granddaughter Maren (2018); also his parents, brothers Melvin and Steven, and sister Elaine.

Jack's friendliness, sense of adventure,  love of intellectual inquiry and discussion, and indomitable spirit live on in his family and all who knew him.  We will forever carry his memory in our hearts.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard, 2185 Meadowlane Avenue, West Melbourne, FL 32904.

Memorial donations may be made to Vitas Healthcare, 4450 Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32935 (be sure to include his full name--Solomon Jack Guberman); Southern Poverty Law Center, or a charity of your choice.