Sheldon (Buddy) Gerson

Sheldon Hart “Buddy” Gerson passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at the age of 94. Buddy was born in Houston on September 9, 1929 and was a lifelong Houstonian. He was the son of Isidore Solomon Gerson and Bernice Gaitz Gerson Lewis and the younger brother to Mozelle and Jeannette. Buddy grew up in the Riverside Terrace with a loving family and MANY aunts, uncles and cousins which played a major part in his childhood and throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, by his in laws, Freida and Dave Steinberg, and by his siblings, Mozelle and David Barg, Milton and Harriet Steinberg, and Jeanette and Fred Baer. Buddy had a group of close friends from his childhood continuing through Cyrus Adler AZA, the MM Copians, and Thursday night poker. They stayed very close as they raised their families and shared trips and many special times together. Although Dad was the last surviving member, their memories remained significant to him and to all of us. Buddy graduated from San Jacinto High School at 15 and began Rice Institute a few weeks shy of his 16th birthday. After graduating from Rice, he went to the School of Pharmacy at the University of Houston and spent over 40 years as a pharmacist. He owned 2 pharmacies in the Fifth Ward and was well respected in the community. Buddy met the love of his life, Rae Steinberg (also a lifelong Houstonian), as teenagers, and they were married in Houston in November of 1950. Last November, they were blessed on their 73rd anniversary at Beth Yeshurun and received a standing ovation. Buddy is survived by his three children: Marsha Abramson, Steve Gerson, and Cindy Abrahams. He always treated his children-in-law, Arnold Abramson, Lora Ann Hager Gerson, and Jeff Abrahams, with the warmth and closeness that he showed his three children. Gramps was a loving grandfather to Michael and Billie, Brian and Lori, Danny and Maggie, Gayle and Corby, Leslie and Danny, Amelia, Kevin and Lauren, Claire and Josh, and Matt and Holli. He was blessed with and received much joy from his 15 adoring great grandchildren: Ethan, Carrington, Sydney, Teddy, Charley, Natalie, Savannah, Jonah, Lila, Kaia, Moe, Leni, Sam, Stella and Miles. Buddy also remained a close uncle and friend as Uncle Buddy (UB) to his Barg and Steinberg nieces and nephews, and they felt his love throughout their lives. Buddy's Judaism was also very important to him. He was a lifetime member of Congregation Beth Yeshurun and enjoyed the prayer, education, and community there. Buddy and Rae especially enjoyed and found comfort at Saturday morning services in the last several years and formed a bond with many congregants. A supporter of Israel, he traveled to Israel many times. Buddy's family was the most important thing in his life. Gerson family playcations, always with an annual t-shirt or hat, were the highlights of our year. He would plan the details and kvell over the grandchildren and the bonds these vacations enhanced. Rae and Buddy also traveled the world after retirement, most often with friends, most often by cruise ship. Buddy was very much a Houston sports fan, with season tickets to the brand new Houston Oiler’s team in 1960, to watching many games at Colt Stadium and the Astrodome. He played many amateur sports himself (running, tennis, racquetball), but his passion was golf. Sunday morning with friends on the golf course was a joy for many decades. Not once or twice, but four times over a lifetime of playing golf, he achieved golf’s holy grail, a hole-in-one. Even in the past few years in his decline, Buddy still had joy and a smile on his face. He relished balloon volleyball with his great grandchildren and participating in Care Partners and The Gathering Place programs. He showed gratitude for us, and we felt his love to the end. He lived a great life, he brought joy to many people, and he will be missed by those who knew him and loved him. Memorial contributions can be made to the Rae and Buddy Gerson Chesed Fund at Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Care Partners Houston (3838 Aberdeen, Houston, TX 77025), or a charity of your choice. A funeral service will take place Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 11:00 am in the Bender Memorial Chapel at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak cemetery. A live stream of the service will be available at the following link: https://venue.streamspot.com/f8d04b5b

Sheldon (Buddy) Gerson

September 9, 1929 - April 16, 2024