Gerald M. Portnoy, 89, of Monroe Twp. passed away Thursday September 14, 2017, after a brief illness.
Mr. Portnoy retired in 1990 as a co-owner of Aaron & Company, Inc., a Piscataway-based wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating and cooling products, where he worked for more than 35 years. He joined the company as a credit manager, having provided accounting services to the firm in the early 1950s.
After becoming a co-owner of Aaron & Co. in 1976, Mr. Portnoy and his partners, Jeffrey Aaron and Frank Laudino, expanded the business by opening two branches and relocating the company's main office to a large warehouse and showroom in New Brunswick's industrial zone.
A graduate of Bryant College (now Bryant University) in Providence, RI and New Bedford (MA) High School, Mr. Portnoy was born in New York City.
He was an active participant in several community service organizations and donated to a host of charities, including the Lions Club, B'nai Brith, Jewish Family Services and Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation. He also served on the board of the Concordia Golf Association.
In his retirement, he found love in golf, bridge, travel and his loyal companion of 20 years, Phyllis Cohen.
Mr. Portnoy was predeceased by his wife of 35 years, the former Marilyn Simon, and his second wife, the former Mildred Levenson, to whom he was married for nine years. His late sister, Sandra Sax of Scottsdale, AZ, died in 2006. Their mother, Elaine Portnoy of Parlin, died in 1998 at age 94. The late Solomon Portnoy, Mr. Portnoy's father, died in 1971.
Gerald Portnoy is survived by his son, Barry (Mona), president of Aaron & Co., daughter Francine Mandel (Alan), five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Funeral service will take place at The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 North Main Street at Riva Avenue, Milltown, at 11:00 am on Monday, September 18th. Interment to follow at Washington Cemetery, South Brunswick, (Deans), NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County, 32 Ford Ave., Milltown, NJ 08850 or the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407. You may sign the "obituary" email "guestbook" at www.crabiel.com ,