Dr. Morton Gerson Coopersmith, 91, of Waldoboro, passed away Jan. 15 after a period of declining health at his home surrounded by family. Gerry was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Samuel and Dora (Verona) Coopersmith. He was the youngest son of Russian immigrants.
Gerry was raised in New York City, graduating from Erasmus Hall High School in 1937. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin, leaving in 1942 to join the U.S. Army. Assigned to the Chemical Corps, Gerry served in Europe during WWII. It was during his time in Wales that he met the love of his life and future wife of over 55 years, Jeanne Geither Coopermith, a fellow patriot working for the American Red Cross.
Upon Gerry’s return to the United States, he married his sweetheart and completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia University. He was recalled by the U.S. Army, serving as an instructor at the Chemical Corps School in Alabama during the Korean conflict, reaching the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge in 1953. He went on to earn a medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his resident internship at Metropolitan Hospital in Philadelphia and joined the original staff at Cherry Hill Hospital in New Jersey, all while raising and supporting a growing family.
After many years in private practice in Beverly, N.J., Gerry moved with his family to Maine. He practiced at the Scott Webb Memorial Health Clinic in Hartland and the Maine State Prison in Thomaston, retiring in 1993.
Gerry always found time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. He was an avid gardener, bird enthusiast, dabbled in pottery and loved to travel with his wife, Jeanne. They spent many happy winters as “snow birds” in Vero Beach, Fla. Boating and fishing with friends and family on his favorite waterways always gave him his greatest joy.
He was predeceased by his wife; parents; daughter, Casey Coopersmith; sisters, Blanche Fischbach and Florence Gitomer; and brother, Arthur Coopersmith.
Gerry is survived by daughters, Jody Coopersmith of Miami, Fla. and Charlotte Coopersmith and companion Bryan Avant of Somerville; son, Peter Coopersmith and wife Isabel of Waldoboro and Bangor; grandchildren, Kathryn Coopersmith of Gorham and Stephen Coopersmith of Waldoboro; and many special nieces, nephews and their families.
A celebration of Gerry’s life will be held in the summer.
You are invited to share your condolences, photos and memories with the Coopersmith family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
