Gerry brothers honored

By TOM KANE

THE BEECHWOODS, NY — Three brothers Gerry were honored—one of them posthumously—by the Sullivan County Historical Society at its annual meeting on October 14 at the Club at Villa Roma.

Alan Gerry, the former CEO of Cablevision, Inc. and the creator of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, was awarded the History Maker Award and his brother, Maurice, a Town of Liberty councilman and neighborhood restorer, was given the History Preserver Award.

Their brother Paul, a well-known photographer and record producer who died in 1996, was given the other History Preserver Award. Paul is best known for his famous aerial photograph of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, and a photograph of the wedding of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fischer, both of which were distributed worldwide. Paul served for three terms as the president of the historical society.

In 1968, Paul opened Revonah Records, a Bluegrass label, from his home studio in Ferndale. With the growing popularity of video games came the emergence of another venture, Tel-E-Vue Productions, which covered video production, documentaries and news.

Maurice regaled the impressive gathering of about 200 of Sullivan County’s illuminati with amusing stories, reaching back to the Bronx where the family lived for a few years. Maurice returned to Sullivan County from California in 1985 to be with his parents, William and Naomi Gorowitz, who were aging. “I wanted to be near them in their final days,” he said.

Maurice, who has served the Town of Liberty for 14 years, has been restoring historic buildings in the area of Ferndale called “The Hill.” He was also a charter member of the Liberty Museum and Art Center and served as vice president of the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce.

“What can we say about Alan Gerry that hasn’t been said already for his immense dedication to his home town and his county,” said Marvin Rappaport, Alan’s friend and associate. “No one has had a greater effect on the resurgence of hope and enthusiasm of this county than he.”

“I’m happy to be a part of the economic resurgence and new spirit of Sullivan County,” Alan said to the audience. “I’m proud to say that Bethel Woods has made Sullivan County a destination. People have told us that they will return to this site as often as they can. There’s a lot going on now in the county and the area and we’re very proud to be a small part of it. It’s only going to get better.”