Gerald Bender Obituary

I absolutely loved Jerry and miss his humor, long talks and wisdom.

God Bless him and Sherwin

He was my dear friend and I loved him.

I just realized Gerrys' home was for sale and was saddened to learn of his passing. He was always very friendly and helpful in his advice.

Read Decalogue Bender "Memorial" just now and was saddened to hear of the "early" passing of my dear friend Gerry who was always full of life and energy as I knew him since Marshall High School days. He was very charitable and noted as well as for his concern to find all ways to somehow correct the injustices thrown upon the Jewish people by the Nazi regime. The Chicago area community has lost a fine citizen, Judge and leader but his memory will be blessed by being an influence upon his family and friends to continue in his good ways and pleasant and happy spirit always.

Sorry, to read about him! Sandra S .M, (Bridgeview.Il.)
And Michael, you take care!

To the Bender Family,

Our deepest condolences to your family. We had been blessed to have a neighbor like Mr. Bender. He was a gentleman and had an angelic Flair to him we will never forget. He will be truly missed.

I have just learned of Jerry's passing. I am so sad. He was such a dear man. A family friend of over 40 years he and my brother Sandy, I did not often see him, but he was always in my heart. On one trip out to Los Angeles, for a Wiesenthal event, he asked if I would like to meet him. I was thrilled. Jerry told me that Simon could at times be brusque and to be prepared. We all went to lunch for what was to be a short meeting. We sat for over 2 hours, and Wiesenthal and I delighted in one another as Jerry sat there glowing and taking pictures of us. Simon Wiesenthal and I maintained our friendship until his passing, exchanging correspondence. Were it not for Jerry's kindness, I would never have had the privilege of having such a friend as Wiesenthal. That was Jerry......kind. A sense of goodness about him. For all whose lives he touched, we are better for the moment. May your memory be a blessing for your family Jerry. With much love, Barbara Allen

To the Bender Family,

I just learned of the passing of Gerald, and am sorry for your loss. Judge Bender was a great Judge. All ways fair, strict, and sometimes with a sense of humor. I was always glad when a case I had was assigned to him. He will be sadly missed in the Domestic Relations Division.

Michael, Lissy and Heather,

You are all in my heart and thoughts. Uncle Jerry was funny, kind, and smart beyond words. My most sincere sympathy to all of you.

With Love,

Robyn (Unell) Brems

I will always remember Judge Bender as a kind, intelligent man with a great sense of humor. Those lucky enough to know him are better off for the experience.

To Judge Bender's family: He will be missed in Court. We are truly sorry he is gone. As a smart, kind, practical, and fair Jurist; he was also quick to smile and laugh and tell a story. I will remember him laughing.

Judge Bender was a wonderful man. To the entire Bender family I'm sorry for your loss. He was a wonderful and caring judge=who would really listen to the people.

To the entire Bender family,

Our deepest sympathy at your loss. Jerry will be missed by all.

Donna and Jeff Byron

Heather, Michael, Alissa,

I am so sorry for your loss, I heard the news just yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Your father was such a wonderful man as you know, I will always remember his wonderful sense of humor and how important his family was to him. I will never forget how he entrusted me to watch over his castle when he took all of you on vacation or swapped wrist watches with me at the airport before going to Argentina. He was such a smart and thoughtful person, you have my deepest sympathy.

Michael Byron

Michael,Allisa,Heather,Pepe and Sharon

My sincere sympathy for your loss. I have many memories that no one can take from me I the last years we have talked many times I am graetful for that well time spent I love you Jerry

Uncle Marv

To the entire Bender family,

Some of the best moments of my youth were spending the 4th of July at the annual picnic with my second "family" and then fireworks at Uncle Gerry's.

Gerry was a true gentleman and class act and the world is a much dimmer place without him.

God bless him and all the Benders.

Lovingly, Paul and Denise Glickman

dear bender family,
so very sorry for your loss. i knew jerry since bryant school. he was always a nice guy and the best jitterbug dancer around when we were at austin high. i guess hashem needed a true mensch sitting near him to help with judgements.
florence snyder bulmash

Dear Heather, Michael, Lissie, Peppy and Sharon
It was a privilege to know and get to love our dear cousin Jerry over the years. My mother Dorothy Pittell and your dad Morris were first cousins. We admired you greatly for all of your work with Simon Weisenthal and your dedication to keeping the memory of Lomza alive.
We loved being together and having lots of laughs with you. You were such an exceptional human being and these tributes from so many people are truly well deserved.
Our deepest sympathy to all of you from your cousins Bob and Elaine Pittell and their families - from Hollywood, Florida

My Deepest Condolences.

The world has really loss a PIONEER ! May his LEGACY live forever.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
with,Sympahies
Esther, Nelson

My Deepest Condolences to your family.

Mr, Bender was a wonderful gentle Soul. The world has loss a PIONNER. who really made a difference.MAY YOUR LEGACY LIVE ON.I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM.

With Sympahies..
Esther,Nelson

I just heard and am very sorry for the lose of someone I cared for and called my friend for so many years. I feel such a lose in my life. I will never forget my freind.

To the Bender family,

We send our deepest condolences to your family. We are very sorry for your loss. He will be missed. Our deepest sympathies.

Dear Bender Family,
I was crushed to hear,from Wally Pecks, of the passing of your beloved Father & Husband .I appeared before him many times during my acrimonious divorce & custody battles.He was a FAIR man and most of all a compassionate man. I was a victim of Domestic Violence & upon bestowing the decree, I will never forget his words as he said "no one should ever have to be subjected to the treatment that this man has forced this woman to endure." I will pray for him. May his memory be eternal.

If you could hear me. I had no more loyal, interesting, inviting, considerate and loving friend than Reggie Denber (Kraflan-Karp-Bryant Language). Captain of the Bryant Guards. House-jobs, double dating, Friday night pizza sharing, softball tournaments, crashing weddings, sneaking into B’nai B’rith dances. You always accentuated the positive, never spoke a negative word and found a way to elevate me. You penetrated my heart. You are a part of me. Goodbye old friend.
Howard

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

I had no more considerate, interesting and loyal friend than Reggie Denber (Kraflin-Park-Bryant language) and Captain of the Bryant Guards. You never uttered a bad word or made a negative comment or complained. Instead you found a way to elevated me and imprinted my heart. Goodbye my friend.
Howard

There will be an empty chair at the holiday table this year, but it will be filled with loving memories.

Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.

To the entire Bender family.

Our long friendship begins in the early 50s growing up on the GVS (great vest side). I've lost my longest living friend. To me he was known as "Reggie"....Franklin Park for Jerry. I received the sad news from Heather just as I arrived in Scottsdale and was so sorry I was unable to be with the family during this terrible time. Please know that my heart goes out to all of you on the loss of a real "Menche." If there ever was a man that could help someone..it was Jerry.

To Heather, Michael, Alissa and the entire family, just remember all those wonderful years you had with him.

My "Reggie" will always be remembered.

Your buddy,

Buddy Kalish

We have had the pleasure of knowing Jerry for many, many years - from Austin High School to the Great Vest Side Club. May you be comforted by knowing how much he was liked and admired. We are so sorry for your loss. Louise (Lyon) and Ron Tuchman

Our deepest condolences for your loss.

My now deceased mother Esther who was a Holocaust survivor was fortunate to have had Jerry as her lawyer and friend.It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of a real "mensche."

so sorry for your loss

To the Bender family. I served on the bench with Jerry for many years and also in the Jewish Judges Associaiot. What a wonderful human being who will be missed by all. Retired Judge Wayne Rhine

To the Family of Jerry Bender:
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
We grew up together on the West Side. Great guy.
Sybil Miller Grossman

I'm sorry for your loss. I hope your memories comfort you through this time of sadness.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” Jerry has left us all with wonderful precious memories.

A fine and honest gentleman who will be missed. I've known Gerry for over 50 years and I'm sorry that I will no longer be able to share memories and good times.

Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

My family has known Jerry for many years as a loyal and most friendly customer of ours for many years. Your kind words and friendship will always be remembered. You will be missed by your family. My deepest sympathy
Steve Brin
Former owner 32 years of Wally's MILK PAIL and Deli in Lincolnwood , IL.

Judge Bender was an example of God's goodness. He was brilliant, tough and fair. He always took the time to mentor attorneys. He adored his children and grandchildren. What a sense of humor! He will be missed.

Dear Sharon and Peppy,

I was shocked to read of the passing of Jerry. I believe we have known each other all of our lives as our mothers shared the same hospital room at Mt. Sinai Hospital as I was born on November 10th and he on November 12th.

We would see each other in the Daley center and laugh about our "sharing a room when we were born".

My heartfelt sympathy on your loss and now he'll be with your Mom and Dad and Sherwin.

Fondly,
Sue Bass

Was in the Army with Gerry in 1960-61. He was a great guy and fun to be around. Thankfully, 2 years ago I called him and we had lunch followed by a reunion with many of our army buddies. His life accomplishments were extraordinary..I was proud to know him.

Jerry:

From dating in High School to seeing you last year and all the years in between, you were a real presence and will be so missed. You will live forever in my memories and my heart. Until we meet again,

Ada

Sending my deepest sympathy in your loss. Gerry was a dear friend from Austin High School. He will be missed.
Bea Bartolucci Marchese

It has been my privilege to have appeared before Judge Bender over the years and he always expressed a warm concern for the children in the family law cases that came before him as well as his dispensing justice mingled with fairness. I will miss his kind presence in the courtroom.

To Judge Bender:

May your memory be eternal. You were one on my favorite Judges in domestic relations. I always appreciated your ability to sniff and call out bogus pleadings. Your temperament will be missed.

A wonderful man just passed away, god willing to a better place. I had much love for him in my heart. Three years older than me, we served together in the army, just two jewish kids from the west side of chicago. He was instrumental in my becoming a lawyer when i had yet to graduate college. Well, i have been doing it for 33 years, thanks to my friend Jerry. i will always see him behind the counter at ruby's, he and sherwin., dishing out the hot dogs and fries, but i also can see him in uniform, just two g.i.'s on their way to New York, to see the Big Apple. i remember a thousand moments which will always be close to my heart, and even though we did not see each other often, he in Chicago, me in L.A., when we spoke it was as if we had just seen each other yesterday. The world lost a good man , but Heaven is a better place because of him. God bless my friend and take care of him. With all my love, Sandy Passman

I have known Judge Bender since 1992. One could not find a kinder, gentler, more decent human being. Even in the depths of his struggle he always smiled and asked how others were doing. I send my most sincere condolences to Michael and the rest of his family as well as his colleagues and his legion of friends. Kenneth Fletcher

I have known Jerry for 35 years. He was alway "hamisha" and a "mensch." An acquaintance who informed me today of Jerry's untimely passing said Jerry "was a good judge."
Bob Handelsman
Evanston, IL

michael,mutual friends of your dad said he was a true gentleman, sorry for your loss steve rentas and family

Such a kind, sweet man. May his memory be for a blessing.

My dear sweet Jerry- You have touched so many people's lives with love, kindness and genuine care including mine! You have been a huge part of my life since I met you in 1973 and I just can't imagine how my life is going to be without your strength, love and jokes! You have accomplished amazing things through this journey of life - You will be missed by many and this world just won't be the same without you! You have been the best friend I could have ever asked for and you will be forever in my heart. So many happy memories have been going through my mind since I found out you have moved on to heaven - - memories that will live on forever! You also have been the best dad and grandpa that I have ever watched in action and quite simply there are no words to express what your loss will mean to all of us!
Debi Szafranski and family

My family has know Jerry for a lifetime starting as neighbors on Chicago's westside. I have been blessed to know him both personally and in his capacity as a judge. He will be missed by all that have come in contact with him. Michael Simkin & family

Dear Judge Bender,

May you forever live in Blessed Memory.

Dear Jerry
I Thank you for coming to my Mom's funeral on 18 March 2010.
You will be with your Dad and Mom in Heaven.
May God Bless you, your sisters will miss you, as well as your many friends.
You were too young to go.