Search Results
Jerome Countess oral history interview
Identifier
OH-02177
Abstract
Oral history interview with Jerome Countess conducted by Dorothy Eisenberg on October 28, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Countess discusses coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976 to take a job with what became the Jewish Federation. He then talks about starting the local Jewish Reporter, a newspaper, and creating a community among fellow Jews in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Photograph of Jayn Marshall and Jerry Countess, 1990s
Date
1990 to 1999
Archival Collection
Description
Jayn Marshall, left, and Jerry Countess, right, at an event for the Jewish Federation.
Image
Photograph of Jerry Countess and Allan Borouszak, 1990s
Date
1990 to 1999
Archival Collection
Description
Jerry Countess, left, and Allan Borouszak, right, at an event for the Jewish Federation.
Image
Article, The Jewish Community of Las Vegas by Jerry Countess, September 1987
Date
1987-09
Archival Collection
Description
In this essay, Jerry Countess provides narrative context for a demographic study of the Jewish population in Las Vegas, and addresses the services and community needs revealed by the study and the growing Jewish population.
Text
Transcript of interview with Jerome Countess and Dorothy Eisenberg by Barbara Tabach, October 28, 2014
Date
2014-10-28
Archival Collection
Description
Interview with Jerry Countess and Dorothy Eisenberg by Barbara Tabach on October 28, 2014. Countess discusses his childhood and military life. He became involved in the United Jewish Appeal in Las Vegas and started the Jewish Reporter newspaper. Dorothy Eisenberg is also involved in the interview to discuss the Jewish Federation and the Jewish community.
Jerome Countess, known as Jerry to most, was born on December 22, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in the borough's Jewish neighborhood, and he developed a reputation for being a skillful handball player and a great dancer. Though he was not allowed to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard due to colorblindness, Jerry was eventually drafted into the army during World War II. With very minimal combat training, Jerry was sent to North Africa as an infantryman, and was later stationed in Italy. After three years of service, Jerry returned home and married his childhood sweetheart, Rachel, in 1945. Using the G.I. Bill, he enrolled at New York University to study writing, though he quit just shy of graduation as his wife was expecting. After briefly working in the television broadcasting industry, Jerry landed a job with the United Jewish Appeal. In 1975, following in his desire to move west, Jerry took the job of executive director of the Combined Jewish Appeal in Las Vegas, what would soon be renamed the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. Under his leadership, the federation started the Jewish Family Service as well as The Jewish Reporter, a monthly publication to promote engagement of the Jewish community. Jerry served as the executive director of the federation for many years, serving at the pleasure of many board members and presidents, including the first female federation president, Dorothy Eisenberg.
Text
Audio clip from interview with Jerome "Jerry" Countess, October 28, 2014
Date
2014-10-28
Archival Collection
Description
Part of an interview with Jerrry Countess and Dorothy Eisenberg on October 28, 2014. In this clip, Countess talks about the early days of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas and an event held by B'nai B'rith.
Sound
