The opening line of the article grabbed me:

"God makes house calls for Jerry Ginsberg" was the lead in the Jewish Week Newspaper on March 10. Jerry was my lawyer, my friend, my patient and there was his photo, standing with his beautiful and kind wife Kerre, in "happier times."

Seeing a friend as the subject of a newspaper article, with picture, is very disconcerting. Reading the story was alternately sad and shocking.

Jerry had developed an inoperable brain tumor in January and was bedridden. Before he slipped into a coma he said he regretted not being able to partake in Sabbath services. He was always present on Saturday mornings whether Kerre and he were in Africa or in Plainview.

Jerry was both former president of the Plainview Jewish Center and president of the Queens County Bar Association. He was a human dynamo.

Let me introduce my friend Jerry. He and I began our careers in Jamaica. I opened my dental office on Parsons Blvd. and Jerry was located on Hillside Ave. Jerry worked with John Sakona, an established lawyer and well-known in Hellenic (Greek) circles in Jamaica.

Jerry soon overcame the dilemma of being a Jewish lawyer in an all-Greek firm. Before too long Jerry was the darling of the Greek community. I marveled at his ability to speak to his clients idiomatically and make them relaxed, and make himself understood.

You felt confident with Jerome Ginsberg Esq. in your corner. He was your advocate, your knight on horseback and your confidante.

When the Founding Fathers established an adversarial system of jurisprudence, they had Jerry Ginsberg in mind. He was your champion.

He was my legal advisor for over 30 years. He summed up a legal situation quickly and accurately. Within a few seconds you knew where you stood and what the odds were.

As Jerry lay in bed a minor miracle occurred. His friends and family brought the synagogue to Jerry. An ark and a Torah were placed in his den and Jerry, in his bed, was part of the Shabbat services.

I attended the morning service and at least 50 people were in the Ginsberg home, along with a cantor and attendant nurses. When I was handed the Torah to parade through the congregation I made sure Jerry's hand was lifted to touch the Holy Scrolls.

Jerry was in a coma but Jerry's spirit and dynamism filled the room. I saw love, hope and beauty in Plainview in the den of the Ginsberg home.

Jerome Ginsberg: Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Son, Friend, Ehrliche Yid (Observant Jew) and Good Person.

We will miss you terribly.

Your spirit is still with us.