Gerald Sydney Lipson
AFORMER FILM distribution executive with Columbia Pictures, Gerald Sydney Lipson, who has died aged 88, was one of the few remaining elder statesmen of the Liverpool Jewish Youth and Community Centre.
He served for decades on the centre’s management committee, when it first operated as a Jewish youth club. In the 1960s when Liverpool University made a compulsory purchase order on the building for campus development, he oversaw the purchase of land in Dunbabin Road, appointing an architect and builder to develop it into Harold House.
In 1965, Gerald developed one of its original constituents, the Merseyside Jewish Forum, into a social group for young people, to which he invited civic leaders, politicians and professionals as speakers.
Harold House evolved into a community centre aimed at all ages, with a restaurant and social drop-in lounge and bar. As chairman between 1980 and 1987, Gerald worked tirelessly to maintain its popularity and survival, organising spectacular fundraisers. Every event drew large crowds to watch snooker tournaments, wrestling matches, top class after-dinner speakers, comedians and showbiz entertainers.
He was appointed a trustee of the LJY&CC and, behind his gentle, quiet and unassuming persona was a dedicated man who led by example, working tirelessly for the community and inspiring the next generation. He was elected president of the Merseyside Jewish Representative Council 2005-2006, in which capacity he met Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State in the George W Bush administration, when she made an official visit to the city.
Gerald’s efforts were supported by his wife Marion on the Harold House Ladies’ Committee. Married for nearly 62 years, the couple celebrated their Diamond Wedding in 2016.
Gerald and his brothers, Cyril and Sam were the sons of Millie and Ernie Lipson, for many years, the popular shammas (salaried sexton) at Greenbank Drive Synagogue and from whom Gerald learned his sense of community spirit and duty. Sam was one of the community’s official professional photographers.
After National Service in the RAF Gerry worked in the film industry after the war, first as an executive in the distribution division of large international studios like Columbia.
His job was to ensure their films were exhibited by the big cinema groups, Odeon and ABC, as well as independent cinemas. Gerry would often arrange for community fundraising committees to take over a cinema for the premiere of the latest blockbuster film. He later worked on the other side of the fence when he managed the Apollo Cinema Group and was the buyer rather than the seller of the films. This he did until he retired, aged 67.
Gerry is survived by Marion, their children Tina and Julian and grandchildren Greg, Drew and Tayte. His brothers Sam and Cyril both predeceased him. MICHAEL SWERDLOW