Jerome Lawrence Grever

JEROME LAWRENCE GREVER of Medford Lakes, NJ, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2022 at 12:23 pm with his family gathered around him.

Jerry was born on February 15, 1926 in Louisville, Kentucky to Francis Arnold Grever, Sr. and Julia Letitia Lawrence. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Patricia Ann Grever, his brother F. Arnold Grever, Jr. and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Elder Grever, all from Louisville, KY.

As a young boy, Jerry loved taking apart and fixing automobiles, refrigerators and his crystal radio set.  From a young age, Jerry had a job in a neighborhood drug store first as a delivery boy, then a soda jerk and finally promoted to manager to help pay his way through Catholic elementary and high schools. He graduated from St. Xavier High School in Louisville and was drafted into the Navy in 1944. He was assigned to Officers Training at University of Louisville. When the war ended, he was discharged and continued his studies at U of L and received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. His first job was surveying high voltage transmission lines in Old Vince End, Indiana. He was hired by RCA in Camden in 1948 as a Development and Design Engineer in the Broadcast Equipment Division. RCA awarded him a Fellowship to attend Purdue University for his Masters in Electrical Engineering, returning to a job at RCA. He was promoted to various management positions during his career with RCA.

Jerry’s career spanned a period of 38 years with RCA. In 1956, he was made Project Engineer for the development of the first color video tape recorder for broadcast TV stations. He traveled to many countries to promote and support sales of the products developed by his department mostly to Japan. He retired in 1986 shortly after RCA was purchased by GE.

Jerry married Phyllis Rodger Brown from Pitman, NJ in 1952, a year after meeting on a blind date through mutual friends. Collingswood was the location of their first apartment followed by moving to Medford Pines in a cozy log cabin apartment on a lake. They bought their first new home in Cherry Hill in 1955. In 1963 they moved to their current location in Medford Lakes where they built their lakefront dream home which was designed by well-known architect Malcolm Wells.

Jerry, volunteered for many years at Homes of Hope in Mt. Holly, rehabbing homes to make them livable for low income families. For 17 years he was head coordinator for Interfaith Hospitality network, a program to help homeless families through St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church in Medford. Jerry also had his real estate license along with his wife Phyllis and they worked as a team at that time. He is survived by his wife Phyllis (Brown) and their 6 children: David (Marilynn), Williamstown, NJ; Patricia Poisson (Francois) Cheshire, CT and Bath, ME; Jack Daniel (Diane) Gastonia, NC; Diane Sorensen (Jan Otto) Svendborg, Thuro, Denmark; Jim, Orlando, FL; Mary Premtaj (Tom), Franklin Lakes, NJ; and 10 grandchildren: Caitlin Grever Forsythe (Andrew); Meghan Grever Chmieleski (Evan); Otis Poisson (Claire); Mairi Poisson (William); Peter Sorensen; Alisa Grever Brown (Adam); Nina Grever Buchwald (Thomas); Sara, Logan and Rory Premtaj; and from Denmark, three great grandchildren Erik Rodger and James Grever Buchwald, and Ellis Brown. Also survived by sister-in-law, Margaret Brown Bushing, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Friday evening from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at the Bradley & Stow Funeral Home, 127 Medford-Mt. Holly Road, Medford, NJ and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, 40 Jackson Road, Medford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM.  Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to Family Promise of Burlington County, 16 E. Main St. Moorestown, NJ 08057. Masses are always appreciated.    (www.BradleyStow.com)

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