[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 166 (Monday, October 21, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JERRY EPSTEIN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 21, 2019

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my 
colleague Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, to celebrate the life of 
Mr. Jerry Epstein, who passed away at the age of 96 on September 2, 
2019 in Los Angeles, California. Jerry was an integral part of the 
development of Los Angeles County through his involvement in real 
estate, construction, and philanthropic causes.
  Born on August 29, 1923 as the only child of Meyer and Tilda Epstein, 
Jerry was raised in the Bronx and Mount Vernon, New York. Shortly after 
the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jerry enlisted in the military, serving as 
an enlisted man and commissioned officer in the United States Army and 
Air Force. He flew in B-17 and B-29 bombers and served on active duty 
during multiple island invasions in the Pacific Theater during World 
War II.
  After the war, Jerry enrolled at Emory University, where he met the 
love of his life, Pat. They were married on December 26, 1948 and 
celebrated more than 66 years together before she passed on July 22, 
2015.
  In 1949 Jerry and Pat moved to Los Angeles, where Jerry initially 
worked for Pat's family business. In 1952, Jerry became involved in 
real estate, including the development and management of multi-family 
rental apartments, as well as the initial creation and development of 
Marina del Rey, now the largest pleasure boat harbor community in the 
world.
  Jerry took pride in his service on several local and state public 
bodies focused on transportation infrastructure and public building 
construction. He was appointed to the Los Angeles County Economy and 
Efficiency Commission in the 1970s and was the first chairman of the 
Energy Commission for the City and County of Los Angeles. Jerry also 
served as a chairman of the California Transportation Commission and 
vice chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
  As a trustee of Saint John's Hospital and Health Center Foundation in 
Santa Monica for more than 40 years, Jerry felt great pleasure working 
with the compassionate sisters, doctors, nurses and staff treating and 
healing patients. Jerry was also chair of the Development Committee 
that oversaw the $500 million reconstruction of Saint John's after the 
1994 Northridge earthquake.
  Philanthropic causes played a big role in Jerry's life--he and Pat 
were honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the 
Boys and Girls Club of Venice, Big Brothers of America, Portals, and 
Saint John's Hospital; they also supported many charities, including 
the Lucille and Edward R. Roybal Foundation, the Jewish Federation, and 
Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles.
  Jerry's impact on the communities he helped build from the ground up 
is indelible. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and I are blessed to have 
known and worked with Jerry on issues of importance in Southern 
California. May his commitment to service inspire those of us working 
toward a brighter future.

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