Roy N. Gerson

We are profoundly saddened by the passing of our beloved husband, brother and uncle, Roy, from a sudden illness.

After attending The Manhattan School of Music, Roy moved quickly and easily into the professional arena, becoming the pianist with the swing band, Widespread Depression Orchestra. He then formed his own band, The Roy Gerson Swingtet, headlining such renown New York City clubs, The Village Gate, Michael’s Pub, Tavern on the Green, The Rainbow Room, and Club Zanzibar. He made his film debut as the pianist of the 1920’s jazz orchestra in Francis Ford Coppola’s, The Cotton Club, and had a cameo performance in Woody Allen’s movie, Crimes and Misdemeanors. Roy’s subsequent films also included Barbra Streisand’s, The Mirror Has Two Faces.

His debut album, That Gerson Person came about thanks to Tony Bennet and his wife, Susan, and his follow up album, Gerson Swings Disney, featured notable performers, Rosemary Clooney, John Pizzarelli and Michael Feinstein.  After living many years in New York, he and his wife, Corrine, moved to Florida where he continued to delight his newfound audience with his amazing talent

Roy will forever live in our hearts…His wife, Corrine, his  sister, Robin Gerson Wong, his brother-in-law, Denis Wong, his niece, Katerina Wong ( Dennis Zollo), his nephew, Andrew Selzer-Wong ( Angela Selzer-Wong,) his brother, Ira Gerson, his sister-in-law, Gayle Gerson , his nieces Ilyse Cody (Brian Cody,) Sarah Gerson ( Ross Vanderwert,) Shayna Adelman ( Brian Adelman) and his great nieces and nephews, Nate and Finn Cody, Penelope Gerson, Annabel and Sophie Adelman and Bria Zollo. He will also be treasured by his cousins and countless friends and musicians worldwide.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Humane Society of New York

Funeral Service

December 13, 2023

11:00 am

Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home

582 Springfield Avenue

Westfield, NJ

908-789-7400

Burial to follow at:

Lake Nelson Memorial Park

150 Morris Avenue

Piscataway, NJ

732-820-0211

Please join us for a repast immediately afterwards at:

The Stage House Tavern

366 Park Avenue

Scotch Plains

(Please note that there are several Stage House Taverns in NJ. This one is in Scotch Plains.)

Shiva (visiting the immediate family during their time of mourning)

will be held at the home of Robin Gerson Wong and Denis Wong on:

Thursday, December,14 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm 

Friday, December,15 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at:

50 Sutton Place South

Apt. 3 A

New York, New York

908-347-1080

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roy N. Gerson, please visit our floral store.