Jerrol L. Harris

April 21, 1933 - June 27, 2023

Jerrol L. Harris died at home in Palo Alto on June 27, 2023 at age 90.

Jerry was born April 21, 1933 in Peoria, Illinois, the younger of two sons of Jacob and Freada Harris. His grandparents, Solomon and Rachel Harris, had arrived from the Old Country in the late 1800s, and established a store selling work clothes (still operating today as Sam Harris Clothing and Uniforms). After graduating from the University of Illinois, Jerry came to California and within weeks was introduced to native San Franciscan Judy Wolf. They married in 1959, and she survives him along with his son Jim (Lisa Friedman) and daughter Gail (David Reider), and four grandchildren: Livia and Ben Reider, Franny and Addie Harris.

Jerry had a 40-year executive career at California Casualty Insurance Company. In parallel, he served in the insurance industry’s national CPCU organization, leading CPCU as President in 1992. He was a longtime director of San Francisco’s Herbst Foundation, and a past director of Peninsula Temple Sholom. In his retirement years Jerry wrote beautiful poetry, volunteered at Stanford University’s English in

Action program, and served as a mediator at Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center. Above all he loved spending time with his family, enjoying dinners at Buck’s, shows at the Stanford Jazz Festival, and especially the annual family gathering in Maine.

Private services were held. The family extends their gratitude to Jerry’s caregivers during his illness: Mau, Camilla and Lute. If you wish to make a contribution in Jerry’s memory, please consider the Oshman Family JCC (https://www.paloaltojcc. org/donate) or Jewish Family & Children’s Services - Palo Alto (https://www. jfcs.org/?location=southpeninsula)