Obituary of Jerry Koven

Jerry (Joseph) Koven of Saint John passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2010. He was born on October 29, 1919 in the Lower East Side, New York City, and arrived in Saint John on July 1, 1930 from Jersey City, New Jersey, where he spent his early childhood. He was the son of the late Barnett and Bessie (Sunkin) Koven, and was for half a century the owner of the Fairville Department Store (Koven’s). An honours graduate from Saint John High School, Jerry attended Mount Allison University and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Dalhousie University at the age of 19. He was accepted to Yale Law School, but due to his father’s untimely death, he chose to remain in Saint John and help his mother run the business. A quiet, unassuming gentleman with an infectious laugh and a warm heart, Jerry Koven was a man of probity. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Marcia (Freedman) Koven; his children, Diane Koven of Ottawa, ON, Charlotte Koven of Toronto, ON, Andrew Koven (Lynn Lurie) of Short Hills, NJ, and Sherry Koven Sheffman (Robbie) of Victoria, BC; eight grandchildren, Rachel Feldbloom, Sarah Feldbloom, Jeremy Poriah, Zahava Poriah, Barnett Koven, Franny Koven, Rebecca Sheffman, and Sunny Sheffman; brother-in-law Dr. Lewis Freedman of Toronto; sisters-in-law Edythe Steinberg (Dr. Barry) of Fall River, MA, and Natalie Freedman of Toronto; many nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and great-nephews. Jerry was predeceased by a sister, Muriel Koven Epstein in February, 2009. The funeral service will be held on Monday, June 28, 2010 at 2:00 PM from the chapel of Brenan's Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424). Interment will take place in Shaarei Zedek Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at the family residence, and friends may call on Tuesday to Friday from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. For those who wish, remembrances to the Jewish Historical Museum would be appreciated by the family, in lieu of flowers, and may be made via sjjhm@nbnet.nb.ca or the website of Brenan’s Funeral Home, www.brenansfh.com.