Gerald "Jerry" David Blum

Gerald D. “Jerry” Blum passed away peacefully at home on October 23, 2026. Jerry was born in Manhattan on September 3, 1943 to Irwin E. Blum and Esther Wolff Blum; he was the younger of their two children. The family lived briefly in Washington, DC, but moved to Langley Park in Prince George’s County, where Jerry spent his childhood. 

Jerry attended High Point High School starting in its first year of operation, and was proud that his class was the only group that went to High Point from 7th to 12th grade. Jerry earned his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College in 1964, and attended every class reunion for decades. He looked back on his years at Swarthmore with great affection, and kept his many reunion binders near his desk. Jerry’s graduate work was at MIT, where in addition to attending classes he was one of the original members of the MIT Tech Squares, a dance group that continues to this day. 

His first job after leaving MIT was as an exhibit designer at the Boston Museum of Science, but in 1973 he accepted a position as a nuclear engineer in Pittsburgh, and worked there for 30 years, retiring just after his 60th birthday, in 2003. While living in Pittsburgh, Jerry sang (tenor) with several choruses and volunteered with civic organizations, including the National Organization for Women (NOW), Blind Outdoor Leisure Development (BOLD), and the American Association of University Women (AAUW). He also judged science fair entries at local schools. 

Most of all, Jerry loved to dance, particularly structured social dance forms. He took up contra dance in 1975, and English Country dance (ECD) in 2003, and he and his wife April danced at least 3 times a week for many years. He was a charming and graceful dancer, and his cheerful, smiling and helpful presence will be much missed. Jerry and April (who met at a 2001 dance weekend) were organizers of two dance weekends, and the 2012 purchase of a house with a ballroom allowed them to host dances at their home each month. 

Jerry is survived by his wife April and her daughters, his stepdaughters, Irene Glasse and Gwendolyn Grastorf: by Lari Pancoast Kirby, his daughter by his first wife (Carol Replogle); and by his older brother, Edward Blum (Marlene) and their sons, Matthew and Daniel. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of: 

Swarthmore https://www.swarthmore.edu/giving 

National Organization for Women https://now.org/more-ways-to-give/ 

Country Dance & Song Society https://cdss.org/support-our-work/ways-to-give/

Folklore Society of Greater Washington https://www.fsgw.org/donate