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Joseph G. “Jerry” Rauber, 79, passed away early Wednesday morning, Feb. 8, at the Bath Veterans Administration Healthcare Facility.
Jerry was born in Dansville, Dec. 18, 1932, the son of Wilfred J. and Mildred E. (Dunne) Rauber. He served his country during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Coast Guard and spent a number of years as a Reservist with the 98th Division, U.S. Army Reserve. Jerry and Marilyn Wagner were married Jan. 14, 1956, and recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. Jerry and Marilyn resided in Dansville their entire time together. He was a graduate of Dansville Central School and attended the University of Rochester and Empire State College. Jerry retired from the University of Rochester as assistant director of security.
Jerry served as town justice in the town of North Dansville and acting village justice in the village of Dansville. Formerly a part-time deputy sheriff and member of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Association, he also served as deputy chief of the now defunct Livingston Civil Defense Auxiliary Police. He graduated from a number of training programs sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute, a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; attended and graduated from the Monroe County Regional Justice Training Center in Command Post Operations Team Command Project-Incident Command System; was a former member of the International Association for Hospital Security; the Advisory Board for Office Automation; Campus Parking Management Association; Hunter Safety Instructor for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; American Society for Industrial Security (Rochester Chapter); NYS Magistrates Association; National Association for Search and Rescue; National Parking Association; Board of Directors of the Livingston County Young Republicans Club; Board of Directors of the Livingston County Council on the Arts and the International Assoc. of Narcotic Enforcement Officers.
Jerry served as chairman of what was the retail division of the Dansville Area Chamber of Commerce and long time member of their board of directors. He organized and was general chairman of the Dogwood Festival in the early years; the Jackson Hose Fire Company Oktoberfest and was instrumental in obtaining state recognition for the annual hot air balloon festival now known as the New York State Festival of Balloons, serving 18 years as the general chairman and organizer. Jerry, his wife Marilyn and daughters, Denise, Karen and Judy were the committee that put on the festival in the early years. Through the Dogwood Festival, Oktoberfest and the Balloon Festival, Jerry’s efforts brought attention to Dansville and visitors from throughout the U.S., Canada and the Federal Republic of Germany. The year 1983 was the 300th anniversary of the first German migration to the United States and German–American societies throughout the nation celebrated this occasion. Jerry, wearing his entrepreneurial hat, contacted the head of city government in Munich, Germany, and after much correspondence, a member of the ruling city government, Herr Karl Hess, came to Dansville representing the city of Munich for Dansville’s Annual Oktoberfest. Expenses for Herr Hess’s trip were borne by the Bavarian City’s residents. This was a coup of sorts for Dansville as many cities much larger than Dansville that supported German–American societies were unable to celebrate this anniversary in a comparable way. He also brought to Dansville the Musik Verein Entrigen, a sizeable musical organization from Germany. During their stay in Dansville they performed concerts in both Dansville and Wayland. Many of the activities Jerry was involved in over the years were successful through the gracious hospitality of local residents who opened their homes to visitors from many places and in some cases from different cultures.
Joseph G. “Jerry” Rauber, 79, passed away early Wednesday morning, Feb. 8, at the Bath Veterans Administration Healthcare Facility.
Jerry was born in Dansville, Dec. 18, 1932, the son of Wilfred J. and Mildred E. (Dunne) Rauber. He served his country during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Coast Guard and spent a number of years as a Reservist with the 98th Division, U.S. Army Reserve. Jerry and Marilyn Wagner were married Jan. 14, 1956, and recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. Jerry and Marilyn resided in Dansville their entire time together. He was a graduate of Dansville Central School and attended the University of Rochester and Empire State College. Jerry retired from the University of Rochester as assistant director of security.
Jerry served as town justice in the town of North Dansville and acting village justice in the village of Dansville. Formerly a part-time deputy sheriff and member of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Association, he also served as deputy chief of the now defunct Livingston Civil Defense Auxiliary Police. He graduated from a number of training programs sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute, a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; attended and graduated from the Monroe County Regional Justice Training Center in Command Post Operations Team Command Project-Incident Command System; was a former member of the International Association for Hospital Security; the Advisory Board for Office Automation; Campus Parking Management Association; Hunter Safety Instructor for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; American Society for Industrial Security (Rochester Chapter); NYS Magistrates Association; National Association for Search and Rescue; National Parking Association; Board of Directors of the Livingston County Young Republicans Club; Board of Directors of the Livingston County Council on the Arts and the International Assoc. of Narcotic Enforcement Officers.
Jerry served as chairman of what was the retail division of the Dansville Area Chamber of Commerce and long time member of their board of directors. He organized and was general chairman of the Dogwood Festival in the early years; the Jackson Hose Fire Company Oktoberfest and was instrumental in obtaining state recognition for the annual hot air balloon festival now known as the New York State Festival of Balloons, serving 18 years as the general chairman and organizer. Jerry, his wife Marilyn and daughters, Denise, Karen and Judy were the committee that put on the festival in the early years. Through the Dogwood Festival, Oktoberfest and the Balloon Festival, Jerry’s efforts brought attention to Dansville and visitors from throughout the U.S., Canada and the Federal Republic of Germany. The year 1983 was the 300th anniversary of the first German migration to the United States and German–American societies throughout the nation celebrated this occasion. Jerry, wearing his entrepreneurial hat, contacted the head of city government in Munich, Germany, and after much correspondence, a member of the ruling city government, Herr Karl Hess, came to Dansville representing the city of Munich for Dansville’s Annual Oktoberfest. Expenses for Herr Hess’s trip were borne by the Bavarian City’s residents. This was a coup of sorts for Dansville as many cities much larger than Dansville that supported German–American societies were unable to celebrate this anniversary in a comparable way. He also brought to Dansville the Musik Verein Entrigen, a sizeable musical organization from Germany. During their stay in Dansville they performed concerts in both Dansville and Wayland. Many of the activities Jerry was involved in over the years were successful through the gracious hospitality of local residents who opened their homes to visitors from many places and in some cases from different cultures.
In 1985, the Dansville Area Chamber of Commerce honored Jerry as the Citizen of the Year. Jerry lived by the axiom that, “You can’t live in a community and just take — you have to give something back.” He came by his interest in community service through his father, Wilfred Rauber, long time Dansville area historian and who was also named Citizen of the Year. Jerry and his father became the second and only other father and son to be so honored.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Jim and John Rauber.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marilyn of Dansville; his daughters, Denise M. (Stephen) Smyder of Dansville, Karen A. Koch of Fairport, and Judith A. (Jay) Hart of Columbia, S.C.; his son, Steven J. Rauber (Michelle Mason) of Dansville; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one step-granddaughter; one step-great-grandson; sisters, Carolyn Hitchcock of Dansville, Maryann Ehrmentraut of Rochester, and Peggy Rauber of Rochester; along with several nieces and nephews.
Jerry’s family and friends called Friday at the St. George-Stanton Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. Jerry’s funeral service with military honors were Saturday at the funeral home. Interment at Old St. Joseph’s Cemetery at the convenience of his family. Contributions in Joseph “Jerry” Rauber’s memory may be made to the Bath VA Hospice Unit, VA Medical Center, Bath, N.Y. 14810.
