Amherst, MA – Always ready to sit down and play a jazz standard at the piano, or share a story or a quip that would make you laugh out loud, Jerry Weinstein was often the life of the party. Gerald (Jerry) Weinstein, of Amherst, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on August 9th, 2026 at age 96, after a long and fulfilling life. He was born on March 14th, 1930, in Philadelphia, PA. After attending Temple University (B.S. and M.A. in Education), and working with the Ford Foundation, he was called to UMass in 1968 to help redesign the School of Education. There, he achieved national prominence for his work developing humanistic, identity-based curricula and promoting emotional awareness in schools.
In addition to his passion for education, he was a master jazz pianist and frequently performed at Applewood, where he lived for the last eight years. His hobbies included nature photography, birding, biking, reading, crossword puzzles, and cooking. He is survived by his loving partner of 30 years, Ann Kahn, his daughters Jill (Fernando), Davina, and Natalya (John), and his granddaughter Cadence (age 11). Memorial details are forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Yiddish Book Center.
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