Jerry Hubschman
- Published: December 6, 2012
Jerry H. Hubschman died of pancreatic cancer on Monday, Nov. 19. He was 83.
Jerry was born in New York on Feb. 4, 1929, the only child of Jerry and Edith (Bartunek) Hubschman. He graduated from Great Neck High School, where he claimed to have majored in art and sports — an early indication of his varied interests and talents.
Prior to enrolling at Ohio State to complete a Bachelor of Science degree, Jerry served in the Air Force Reserve, worked in both the jewelry and boat building industries, and earned an associate’s degree at Long Island Agricultural and Technical Institute. With the help of a National Science Foundation fellowship and a waiver of a master’s degree, he completed the Ph.D. program in a record three years.
After a stint with the U.S. Public Health Service, Jerry joined the founding faculty at Wright State. He was a dedicated teacher. In addition to other teaching awards, Jerry was elected “Teacher of the Year” by the honor students. He introduced students to aquatic environments through memorable field trips, locally, to Lake Erie, and to the Duke University Marine Lab. He spent many summers teaching and conducting research at Ohio State University’s lab on Lake Erie. This led eventually to the purchase of a home on South Bass Island.
Jerry also served on the boards of the Dayton Museum of Natural History, Channel 14/16, as Wright State’s associate provost and president of the Ohio Academy of Science.
Among his hobbies were cooking and woodworking. Jerry regularly prepared both basic and exotic meals for family and guests. His signature “egg-in-a-hole” breakfast was anticipated by hundreds of participants at an annual regatta. Jerry enjoyed all aspects of woodworking, from rough carpentry to producing well-crafted furniture. He also taught a class in sign carving at the Campbell Folk School. At retirement, he took up woodturning and became proficient enough to sell his products and publish “how-to” articles.
The last few years, were spent enjoying life on South Bass Island. He kept his ’39 Austin running, was a trustee of the island museum, introduced elder hostelers to island geology, pursued his hobbies and ended the day watching the sun set over Lake Erie.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Doris Mulacek; sons Jeff (Peggy) and Don (Nancy); daughter Jane (Joseph) Baily; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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