Jerome Gumenick's Obituary
Jerome Gumenick, a major real estate developer and area philanthropist, died September 30. He was 85. He was the son of the late Nathan Samuel Gumenick and Sophia Carpel Gumenick of Miami Beach and Richmond, Va.
Mr. Gumenick made significant contributions to local medical, educational, religious and cultural institutions in South Florida as well as in Virginia. Mr. Gumenick was born in Richmond, Va. June 28, 1929. He was raised there in the same Ginter Park neighborhood as the celebrated American novelist Tom Wolfe, who recalled their childhood friendship in the book “Celebrate Richmond.” “Here we were, nine or ten years old, in the fifth or sixth grade, and my mother would give me twelve nickels, and Mike Moncure’s or Jerry Gumenick’s mother would give him twelve nickels, and the two of us would head off by ourselves at 7:00 a.m. for a day at the Fair,” Wolfe wrote. Mr. Gumenick attended Richmond schools and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Following military service and graduation from the University of Miami in 1952, he joined his father in the real estate business. Mr. Gumenick was actively engaged in the operation of Gumenick Properties until retiring as Chairman. He played a major role in the expansion of this third-generation company, which now operates in Virginia and Florida. Nathan Gumenick, Mr. Gumenick’s father, established the company in Richmond during the 1940s. From its origin, the company was involved in many segments of the real estate industry. These included the construction and sale of single-family homes, apartments and commercial projects. Gumenick Properties has built more than 5,000 homes and 10,000 multi-family apartment units, shopping centers and a regional mall.
Mr. Gumenick started his own homebuilding operations in the late 1960’s, which led further housing expansion into western Henrico County. He developed single family and townhouse neighborhoods throughout the Westmoor, Brandon, Waterford Rhye and River Road Farms subdivisions. In the 1990’s, he succeeded his father as Chairman of Gumenick Properties and guided the family business through its successful reorganization.
In the early 1950s, his parents frequently came to Miami and ultimately made it their permanent home. His father built Southgate Towers, Miami Beach's first high-rise apartment complex where Mr. Gumenick first worked in sales as a young apprentice following his graduation from the University of Miami. Some 40 years later, he would be credited with assembling the adjacent land for and the successful development of The Floridian, a 33-story high-rise on Biscayne Bay. He maintained a winter residence there until his death. Not only was Mr. Gumenick successful in business, he also embraced a lifelong and deeply held belief in contributing generously to worthwhile causes and organizations. His gifts ranged across many causes and areas. He frequently credited his parents with instilling in him the need to be engaged in philanthropic activities. "My mother and father were real role models," he said. "They taught me the real meaning of giving and caring for my fellow man." Like his parents, he particularly focused on medical, religious and educational institutions. As a result, his many gifts over the years contributed to enhancing the quality of life in South Florida and Virginia. He also touched many Americans across the nation through support of similar activities. Concerned with the provision of quality healthcare, Mr. Gumenick supported a number of medical organizations. In South Florida, he was a Founder of Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. His continued financial support of the hospital allowed an expansion in 1990 of the Gumenick Ambulatory Care Center, which his parents had founded. The Ambulatory Care Center brought outpatient care to Miami Beach for the first time. Similar generosity led to the development of the Sophia and Nathan Gumenick Suites at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. In 2005, Mr. Gumenick was responsible for the gift that allowed the hospital to expand and renovate the facilities at the suites, which bear his parents’ name. Educational institutions also received gifts from Mr. Gumenick. He and his family supported the University of Richmond, The College of William and Mary and the Collegiate Schools. The University of Miami, his alma mater, had special meaning for Mr. Gumenick. Beginning in the 1950s, his parents began a program of regular giving that led to their membership in the school’s “Society of Founders.” This long-term commitment led to the creation of the Gumenick Lobby at the University of Miami’s Richter Library. The depth and longevity of the family-university connection was demonstrated by the attendance of all three of the school’s living presidents at the Library lobby’s dedication in spring 2003. Prior to his death, Mr. Gumenick established a charitable trust that enabled the creation of Gumenick Family Hall at the newly built Alumni Center on the Coral Gables campus. He was a member of the University’s George E. Merrick Society and the President’s Council, and was awarded nomination into the Iron Arrow Honor Society. Mr. Gumenick was an avid fan of University of Miami football. Jerry was one of the original donors to the student-athlete scholarship fund making a gift in 1983, the first year of the Hurricane Club. He later established the Jerome Gumenick Endowed Football Scholarship which annually awards a scholarship for a deserving student athlete. Former recipients have all successfully graduated from the university and several currently play in the National Football League. The family's religious convictions were reflected in support of many causes, including the Gumenick Chapel at Temple Israel in Miami. Its innovative, modern architecture has attracted critical acclaim. The chapel still serves as a cornerstone of the congregation today. Besides his engagement with Miami institutions, Mr. Gumenick has been deeply involved in similar activities in Virginia. The family has longtime ties to Temple Beth Ahabah in Richmond and supported creation of the Gumenick Chapel there. The family also provided for the Senior Rabbinic Chair at the temple where Mr. Gumenick was a past member of the Board of Managers.
He especially has given time and talent to the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. There, he has served in many leadership roles. These include terms as a Director, Campaign Chairman of Operation Exodus II and a Director of the Endowment Fund.
On a national level, the Jewish Federations of North America also relied on Mr. Gumenick in several important ways, including his service as National Vice Chairman, Prime Ministers’ Mission Chair and Northeast Major gifts Chairman. He also is a past board member of the Hebrew Union College. Symbolic of the family's commitment to peace and a better understanding of our world, the Gumenicks provided funds for the creation of the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Mr. Gumenick and his parents hold the distinction of being founding members of this institution. He was also attracted to the same principles of religious freedom serving on the advisory board and capital campaign to the Council for the America’s First Freedom. He most recently supported the capital construction campaigns at the Performing Arts Center, Richmond Center Stage, and First Freedom Center in downtown Richmond. He helped establish funds at the Community Foundation of Richmond. Mr. Gumenick also served on the advisory board of the Virginia Opera and was a longstanding supporter of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts , The Valentine History Center and the Hospital Hospitality House to name a few of the organizations that received his support.
Many groups have recognized Mr. Gumenick’s philanthropic activities. The Jewish Community Federation of Richmond honored him in 1996 with its Distinguished Service Award. Two Virginia governors appointed him to the Virginia-Israel Commission. In 1997, he received two honors – Miami observes “Jerry Gumenick Day” on July 10 and the South Shore Hospital Auxiliary named him “Citizen of the Year.” In 1998, he received the distinguished Richmond Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice. In 2004, he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Gumenick is survived by his wife Gene Grayson. His sister, the late Harriet Gumenick Grandis, formerly of Richmond, preceded him in death. Other survivors include: two sons, Jeffrey H. Gumenick and his wife, Jennie Bell Gumenick of Richmond, and Randolph S. Gumenick of Miami Beach; seven grandchildren, Eleanor Blair Gumenick, Sarah Peyton Gumenick, Lillian Randolph Gumenick and Roland Theodore Brierre, all of Richmond; and Nathan Samuel Gumenick, Tucker Randoph Gumenick and Sophia Tucker-Gumenick, all of Miami Beach.
A private burial will be followed by a memorial service at Congregation Beth Ahabah Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday October 8 at 2:00 pm.
Arrangements by Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel (305) 865-2353
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