I like being reminded every year to stop and think abut Jerry. Of course I do many times without a reminder; but the focused time to reread what others said and relive Jerry's presence is important. This time I was able to laugh and truly enjoy Lester's wonderful comment about Jerry's voice, and it was indeed unforgettable. I feel so fortunate to have known him, and to share with this community of people who loved and remember him.

Thinking of Jerry on his birthday. Sending greeting to Pat and the family.
Zee

When I think of Jerry, I hear his laugh which always seemed to precede his tall self. He and I worked closely many years ago and then became colleagues in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. He watched over me as I completed my PhD and offered me a job in his program on student development at ISR and, later, nudged me toward the Center. While I was a hick from Philly, our backgrounds were similar and we often finished each other's sentences. He was a true mensch. I miss him and send my greetings to Pat and the family.

Speaking as a musicologist, one of the remarkable features of Jerry’s presence was his deep basso profundo voice, perfect for the low voice roles of Baron Ochs in Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier or the Commendatore in Mozart's Don Giovanni. While with us, Jerry sang dramatic passages of fairness, equality, and social justice. Those melodic lines continue to influence all who joined him and contributed a rich harmonic ambiance to our lives. We truly miss the “leading-man” in these daily performances.

Missing my dear friend, mentor, confidant, and thought partner.

I'm having one of those moments when it just hits you hard out of nowhere, and you are just overcome with emotion. I feel Jerry's loss everyday as I move through the various phases of this DEI work, but I now that he would be so proud. I, too, thought a lot about Jerry during the inauguration events. As others have expressed, I'm sad that he did not have a chance to witness with us the many historic firsts, but I'm relieved that he didn't have to endure both the pandemic, as well as what might be characterized as the darkest moments of the Trump presidency. NOBODY could put righteous indignation on display quite like Jerry. Truly one of a kind!

I feel so incredibly blessed to have had Jerry in my life for so long, and at such critical points in my development.

Forever Grateful.....

I, too, was remembering Jerry a lot watching all the Inauguration ceremonies--the multigenerational, multiracial, and inspiring reality that is still so deep, possible, and alive!! There was a moment when Biden talked about the impact of listening to his granddaughter saying that the insurrection was completely unlike the Black Lives Matter protests. It reminded me of the many conversations I witnessed with Jerry, Pat and the family. At Jerry's Memorial Service, many people shared about the feeling of a Beloved Community that Jerry and Pat have nurtured. I shared with Pat that more than a Beloved Community, I felt it was a Prophetic Community--a vision and a reality simultaneously overdue and ahead of its time! I was reminded of that again with the Inauguration of what can be possible--in Amanda Gorman's words: "A nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished." Much love to everyone...

I thought a lot on Wednesday about it being the anniversary of Jerry's death, and how sorry I was that Jerry didn't live to see this transfer of power and the end of the Trump Presidency. Jerry's moral outrage at injustice was legendary and I felt its relevance throughout these past two years. It was good to hear someone speak in a more decent, humane voice that day and especially to hear Amanda Gorman's poem. 
I'm glad Jerry didn't have to live through this pandemic, but I know his spirit was reflected in the lovely memorial on Tuesday night and those features of Wednesday.

It's been two years now since Jerry's passing on January 20, 2019. Yet, I see his University of Michigan legacy on a daily basis in the ongoing diversity work within both the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education as well as the Institute for Social Research's Program for Research on Black Americans.

On the occasion of Jerry's birthday, greetings to Pat and the rest of the family. I've been thinking about Jerry the last few days as I write my memoir. At this very minute I am writing about a period when Jerry and I worked together or side-by-side. Jerry appears as a benign presence in that memoir, always interesting, always sweet, and always over-scheduled. Happy Birthday, Jerry. I lift a glass to your memory, which will always be with me.
Zee

I can't believe it has been a year. I can still hear Jerry's laugh.

Looking at all the pictures I see that Jerry towered over everyone else even in his advanced years-- not only in his height but in matters of the heart and intellect. After many years not seeing him when I moved to New England, I can still hear his booming voice and New York accent. Jerry offered me my first post-PhD research job at ISR in the Michigan Student Study in the mid-60s, then recommended me for my first teaching job in higher education. Jerrry sat on my living room couch while I dropped off my second child at his first day of kindergarten, patiently waiting to go over print-outs. I spent a lot of time at meetings with Jerry. We shared graduate students. We wrote reports. He brought fun and good sense to those meetings. And most of all, he brought decency, kindness, and trust in people to those meetings. What a guy!!

I am so grateful for our beautiful gathering to honor and celebrate the life, family and community of Jerry Gurin. What a profound and powerful coming together of people deeply touched by his generosity, grace and goodness.

Thank you Pat and the Gurin family for allowing such a meaningful space for sharing our memories, our love, our tears and our connectedness. Here is a link to a collage of photos so that we may continue to cherish Jerry and what he and Pat have gifted to each of us.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=18O5AJ1XNUwcL6EVBsq_jvaKkTO-uVPpQ

I will always remember Jerry for his commitment to fairness and social justice. Well into his nineties, his work and guidance on the Michigan Student Study help produce a major research study on for the student experience. May he Rest In Peace.

My daughters and I have sweet and wonderful memories of our friendship with Gerry, Pat and Chloe in the 1990s. Jerry was, in his own quiet ways, a strong presence yet his humanity always stood out in our interactions. He will always live in us and his passion and advocacy for social justice will continue to be a legacy in all of our hearts.

I will always remember Jerry as a true mentor with a compelling intellect, strong indignation for racial injustice, positive spirit, and genuine respect for human dignity....

Jerry was a brilliant scholar and a force for social and racial justice, of course, but he was also such a kind, caring, gentle, loving man. He always had a big smile for others, was a great intellectual and social justice mentor to many, and an inspiration to all. He lives on in our memories and our bettered lives, and in the life of his beautiful family.

I will always remember Jerry’s warm greetings, smiles, laughter, and insights he brought to our discussions. I will cherish the fellowship around our dinner-book discussions about humanity, skepticism and faith.

Dear Jerry~ You are kind and compassionate person. I am blessed to have you in my life~
You are loved, in all times of good and sad~ 
Until we meet again.

Jerry --and Pat --showed up for us late-'60s and '70s U-M psych students: They offered up superior intellect, comfortable energy, critical reflection/inspection space, fellowship, food, exquisite listening, affirming exchange, laughter, and a willingness to shine hot lights on the social justice challenges of the day. Jerry --and Pat --showed up collegial, informed, focused, and flexibly available. They helped us to take on the proverbial "elephants in the room" thoughtfully, substantively, balanced and prepared. Amazingly, they were never grumpy. Jerry could prompt, even lead, us to take a deeper, more comprehensive dive --smiling right through the entire nudge. Jerry was patient with robust conversations. No panic, no pressure. I always left the Gurins more pumped to participate, not only on the U-M doctorate journey, but in society at large and on the world stage. RIP.

Jerry Gurin is a reminder of (wo)man's immortality, for he lives in me.
Jerry and Pat Gurin were the shoulders we stood on at The U of M in the early to mid 1970s.
A life well lived.

Jerry was an amazing person on so many levels. He was remarkably kind, generous, gracious, and joyful-- eager to embrace all that life had to offer. I admired the loving relationship that he and Pat had, and how remarkably attentive, patient, and involved he was with his children and grandchildren. He was an absolutely brilliant, learned, and accomplished man who called out social injustices, but was never hesitant to show a playful side.  I have many fond memories of times spent with Pat and Jerry in Ann Arbor, New York, and Vermont. At Christmas time, when we’d read and act out August Wilson’s plays, Jerry would choose a role and play it with gusto with his big, booming voice! He lived a very full and principled life, brought happiness to so many, and did so much good in the world! I will surely miss his presence, but his compassionate spirit will live on….

Jerry has been and will be a role model for me. In June 2016 (PRBA reunion), I approached him and told him that "50 years ago Pat and himself had shown that high locus of control does not mean the same thing for Whites and Blacks". "Now 50 Years later, I have found that similar constructs (self-efficacy, perceived control, etc) predict mortality for Whites but not Blacks", I explained. Then I told him how much I admire him and then: "I wanted to come to you, take a picture with you, and tell you that your research has informed my work 50 years later". " You should send an email and tell Pat as it will make her very happy" he said. I will never forget him. What he wrote half a century ago made my findings understandable to me....  I shared that photo on this website.... Rest in piece Jerry!

Dr. Jerry Gurin, a brilliant man, a kind spirit, a youthful and wise soul. I miss you. Thank you for officiating my and jeanine's wedding. You were the only one we thought of to do it and are grateful that you agreed. We wanted your clean energy and aura of love that you always carried with you. I loved the many meals you, Pat, Jeanine and I had together--our great conversations where we shared our hopes, dreams, and struggles. You would often be the more quiet one in the group and yet, when you spoke your words would somehow make everything OK. Be well my friend - you not only planted many seeds in this world, you left a huge forest.

Jerry was a truly beautiful human being. He made my world so much better and in so many ways. I think of every conversation we ever had--they always started with his outrage at some new injustice just uncovered, or an old one confirmed, and soon moved into a brilliant analysis of what was at stake, and sooner than seemed imaginable we were laughing and remembering the joy of friendship, of conversation, of being on the right side of history, and of love . Jerry was a presence in this world--he made it better. I miss him, but am so aware of all the loving, wonderful people he left behind--the family he adored, and his many friends and colleagues whose lives he touched. May it be true in all we do and are that he is truly "a part of us."

When I first met Jerry over 40 years ago at their home in Ann Arbor, I was dumbstruck. Like cousin Jesse, I first 'knew' Jerry when I was an undergrad. He was the author of one of my favorite political science books on parties and politics in America, which influenced my choice as a poly sci major. Meeting him in person added so many more dimensions! I will miss his wonderful spirit, his sense of humor and the joy he found in his family and in life.

Jerry was one of the most wonderful and inspirational people I have ever had the fortune to know. It is hard for me to believe that he is no longer physically with us. I do know he is living on in his legacy -- his wonderful family, his scholarship, and his justice work. My best memory of him is when he met my father in law, Harry Peyser, and they discovered they had both attended DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx and they broke out into singing the school song.