IN LOVING MEMORY
Giovanni Jerz-Breaux
May 15, 1957 – Dec 25, 2020
English
Giovanni (John) Jerz was a tireless educator, dedicated mentor, and proud father whose achievements are measured by the lives he impacted.
In 1988, John founded the United Nations Educational Center in Newark, NJ to help others create opportunity through education. He devoted 31 years serving the community, pushing his students to achieve their best and unlock their dreams.
An intelligent, generous, and committed man, John was also a sharp dresser who enjoyed fine art, cooking, and gardening.
Although we are heartbroken by the loss of our professor, father, brother, husband, and mentor, we are forever grateful for him. As John would say, “My body will remain on earth, but my knowledge and wisdom will forever spread throughout the air.”
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Thank you for sharing those photos, Orian. They’re beautiful🧡
Hello all, please feel welcome to leave any comments and stories about my dad. Photos welcome if you have any. You can also reply to other’s comments.
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Hola a todos, por favor siéntanse bienvenido de dejar comentarios e historias sobre mi papá. Fotos bienvenidas si tienen alguna. También pueden responder a los comentarios de otras personas.
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Olá a todos, por favor, sintam-se à vontade para deixar comentários e histórias sobre meu pai. Fotos bem-vindas, se você tiver alguma. Você também pode responder aos comentários de outras pessoas.
Dr. Jerz was a great Professor. He was strict and had a very strong personality. He was very important to the Newark community, during many years he dedicated himself to teach and preparing people to achieve their goals with wisdom and knowledge. No doubt it’s a huge loss to the Newark community. Rest In Peace!
Professor was a great man, and he helped so many immigrants in our community. It is still difficult to accept that he is no longer among us. He was also a proud father, and he would always have something to tell about his children.
I met him in 2005 when I enrolled at the school. Later, I became his employee. I worked at the school for 7 years. I am one of the immigrants Professor helped in Newark-NJ.
Now, all I know is that Oliver Street will never be the same. 💔
Thanks Professor!
Thanks Boss!
Rest In Peace!
I got to know Dr. Jerz by collaborating with him in providing immigration assistance to the son of a poor family from Central America. I was the lawyer of record and Dr. Jerz never pretended to be a lawyer. (He actually was one of the few non-lawyers I have known who took the time to become certified as a non-lawyer to handle certain immigration matters.) Dr. Jerz literally spent hundreds of hours working on this matter. While I charged a fee he put in hundreds of hours for no compensation. He had very high standards but always with the aim of maximizing the possibility that the son would be able to stay in the United States. I greatly enjoyed working with him and came to value his humor, tenacity, and friendship. I miss him very much and can only imagine how difficult this loss must be for his family.
Dr: Jerz was a great person, with a great heart, one of the most intelligent person I knew, he always had wise words to advise me.
He was a Very important person for the community and students, he really made a difference for those who had the privilege to be his students or work for him.
I Will always remember him and his wisdom with great gratitude.
What he taught Will remain, and he Will always be remembered.
My husband and I are sad that the Professor passed away, he was an incredible person. I will never forget what he did for me, when I didn’t pass the first GED math test, he said: “Simone, I know you can do it, you are one of my best students”. So I tried again and passed. I will never forget the Professor. Rest in peace 😥
Mr Jerz (como yo le decía con todo el respeto que su Doctorado me permite )fue un ser extraordinario, de aquellos que no se encuentra fácilmente.Fue el mejor Profesor que mi hija pudo haber tenido y más que eso un Mentor en su carrera universitaria, nunca les negaba ninguna ayuda a sus estudiantes siempre dispuesto con una sonrisa que se convertía en seriedad cuando no cumplían sus expectativas o sencillamente no cumplían con sus tareas y sus responsabilidades.
Oh Mr Jerz cuanto lo vamos a extrañar, en especial sus estudiantes, nos quedamos huérfanos de sus sabios consejos, pero su legado queda en cada persona que usted ayudó.
Mi hija y yo nos sentimos privilegiadas de haberlo conocido y como han dicho, Oliver St ya no será la misma sin usted.
Mis condolencias a sus seres queridos; su esposa, sus hijos de quiénes usted nos hablaba con tanto orgullo y satisfacción.
Gracias Amado Dios por ese ser tan maravillosos que nos prestaste aquí en la tierra, pero aceptamos tus designios. Pienso que tú lo necesitabas para una labor muy especial allá donde no hay maldad sólo bondad que era lo que lo representaba a usted.
Mi señor recíbelo en tu santa gloria. Gracias mi querido Mr Jerz por todo. Descance en Paz.
Your note is beautiful. Thank you, Martha.
You’re welcome, Orian. Mr. Jerz siempre será especial para nosotras.
He was a person with a strong personality and a big and generous heart. I miss him so much and his incredible lessons. It will always be in my story and my memories. God bless you. thank you Professor for everything.
Dr. Jerz was a very special human being. He was more than a teacher; he was a wise mentor. He was strict and very intelligent. He cared deeply. I’ll forever remember him as someone who believed in my abilities and helped me accomplish my educational goals.
I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to be his student.
Rest in peace, professor.
Dr. Jerz, our professor! You will be missed by many, in different ways! You were a man that had the gift to make us believe and go after our goals and dreams! Helped so many, including myself!! Gave me the ability to speak another language, got me through the GED exam and most of all gave me the huge and unique opportunity to work at UNEC for about for years as a receptionist, where I learned a lot and was the key to open doors for a different and better future!! I have no words to express how sad it is losing a person like you!! Like my friend Janaína said:”Oliver Street will never be the same!”
I knew Dr. Jerz for almost 20 years. I can tell to anyone how amazing person he was, how big was his heart and how beautiful was his soul . He treated us like we were his own children whether being strict when needed or lending his ear when we need to be listened. He helped many of us , when most of people said we wouldn’t have any chance in this new land .. Because of him I’m pursuing Math to be a professor like him . He was a great inspiration for me , He always will be missed … Rest in piece my dear friend Professor Jerz. 😞😢
Dear Mr. Jerz,
If I am completely honest, I am writing you this letter without much strength because even if it is about you, I would rather be writing you an email or receiving one of your many calls to advise me, congratulate me on my achievements or, as it happened many times, scold me for not meeting your expectations. This last part meant a lot to me because it showed me that GENUINE interest you had in me and my growth both as a person and as a professional.
KIND, CARING, SELFLESS, WISE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, and STRONG-MINDED are qualities that are hard to find in only one person and you had them all. My mother and I always joked and said that we had “hit the jackpot” by finding YOU when we found your school as you were a light that the Lord put in our path during hard times; and I will always be GRATEFUL for that.
I just want to say, it’s been difficult to wake up each morning and realize that you are no longer just a phone call, an email, or a 15-minute car ride away. It is difficult to know that I will no longer have your advice and guidance; those that were always full of knowledge and wisdom.
You’ve impacted my life in ways that no other person outside of my family circle ever has. When you first met me, I was a shy and reserved teenager but you helped me overcome so many obstacles that I myself would build throughout the years as I would travel my college journey. You believed in me, never doubted me, and always motivated me to keep pushing, never give up and reach my goals. You had my best interest at heart and most of who I am today as a young adult; my progress and my milestones; have a name on them and that’s YOURS.
I had the privilege of sharing my most important experiences as a high school and college student with you. I had the privilege of having you as my mentor and that you were always willing to share your knowledge with me. I was just privileged because I met YOU.
Recently, I also had the opportunity to meet two of your children; Orian and Shirley; and I will be eternally GRATEFUL for that. Now that you’re gone, all that’s truly left from you is them; and having met and exchanged a few words with two of them is already SPECIAL to me.
All that is left for me to say is that there will never be times in my life when I don’t remember you or need your advice, however, it reassures me to know that a small part of you remains in me as I was one of the many people who had the joy of having you in their lives and were able to witness that NOBLE heart that characterized you so much.
I keep the BEAUTIFUL memories; such as your FUNNY jokes in English classes, our long conversations about my transition to college, your constant calls throughout my college career to make sure everything was going well, and many short but SPECIAL moments with you that I will treasure for a lifetime.
Your departure hurts so much here on earth whereas I’m sure everyone in heaven cheers for your arrival.
Rest in Peace my dear Mr. Jerz. Gone but never forgotten.
Until We Meet Again,
Alexa.
He was so good professor,great person
We will miss him forever! He was my professor for years.
Rest In Peace
He was a good teacher. Always pushing his students to reach their maxim potential. I’m grateful for his mentorship.
I finished the ESL course in 2013 and I also took math lessons for the GED test.
He was a good professor.
In school the backdrop was always classical music.
Dr Jerz was not only professor… he was my amazing mentor. Passionate for the freedom that education brings, he brought me courage and knowledge for my life in USA. I will be always grateful for his mentoring. Absolutely he had changed many lifes in our community.
Un maestro excelente, un gran ser humano, aprecié mucho su personalidad muy especial dentro de el su disciplina, un motivador personal, buen gusto de vestir y el Rock Roll jaja divertido para empezar la clase
Dr. Jerz aquí no está…pero así lo recordaré “único”
Descanse en Paz!
Can’t believe he’s not here with us anymore; He always said that when he died he wanted his wisdom to spread all over the world and he wanted to be remembered for his knowledge.
RIP Dr. Jerz