Published: December 23, 2019, 9:30 a.m.
Alexandra D. Gerry, 72, of Bethel, previously from Norwalk, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 17, 2019.
Known to family and friends as “Randi”, she was born in Brooklyn, NY, and studied dance with Donald McKayle at the Martha Graham School of Dance as a child. After moving to Pennsylvania, she graduated from Moravian Prep School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and received a BA from American University in Washington, DC.
Randi leaves behind brother Thomas Gerry and wife Brenda of Round Top, NY; Sister Patricia Campbell and her husband Bill from Newtown; as well as beloved nephews, Dylan Gerry and Alex Campbell; and niece, Kaitlyn Gerry; a great nephew and a great niece; and many really beloved cousins.
She died of her husband Arthur Portnow; her nephew Joshua Gerry; and her parents Walter and Miriam Gerry.
Randi’s work included researchers at American University and the US Labor Department. She also worked for the National Education Association’s LIFE project. She was a professional freelance photographer for Gerry-Moran Associates in Washington, DC (clients included the Washington DC Performing Arts Society and the New York Post).
Randi worked as the assistant public relations director and staff photographer at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia before moving to New York City.
She lived in the Gramercy District on 24th Street, where she and her husband started their consulting firm, GP Consultants. In New York, she worked as a freelance photojournalist for organizations like Guiding Eyes for the Blind and United Jewish Appeal in the 1970s. She supported her husband Arthur with audiovisual productions for the UJA Telethon after the Yom Kippur War and with several fundraising campaigns for mobilization. She worked with Arthur Portnow, among others, at PR events for UJA and the Weitzmann Institute of Science.
Randi and Arthur moved to Norwalk in 1983 and worked freelance in corporate governance and public relations, which earned them a number of awards.
She loved going to the theater, museums, ballet, and sailing with Arthur, especially when she cruised the Cunard Lines. Randi sailed twice on the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2).
Randi had many medical problems throughout her life, but her demeanor was always optimistic and positive and she rarely complained about anything. She was funny and had a great joke. She was the queen of trivia, especially everything related to movies and actors, and a member of a number of mahjong organizations. She loved animals, especially cats, and supported wildlife organizations.
Randi loved her family very much and spent as much time with everyone as possible. She has also always been a supportive and caring friend. Everyone loved her.
The family especially thanks Kayla, Aimee, Carrie, Susann, Diane, Mary, Wanda, Denise and many others who looked after them so lovingly in Maplewood on Stony Hill, as well as Catherine and Vickie of Regional Hospice and the others this wonderful team. Special thanks also go to Stephanie, who goes above and beyond.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 29, 2019 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury.
A reflection of family and friends will be conducted at the funeral home at 4 p.m. on the same day.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Regional Hospice of Danbury or the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) or your preferred wildlife organization.
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