Gerald William Cohen, DPM, January 25, 1925 – April 10, 2022

Jerry Cohen, aka Footso-the Clown, known widely for his sense of humor, creativity and skills as a podiatrist, compassion, patience and magic routine died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family. He was 97 years old. 

Jerry was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he lived with his parents and younger brother Harvey. His family moved to Fairlawn New Jersey when he was a teenager. He left there to join the Navy during World War II. He was assigned to the South Pacific. He served as a rear  turret gunner in a torpedo bomber. Though he was never deployed to the war zone, he sustained an injury during a bombing drill when the impact from a torpedo explosion shattered the turret glass. After the war he moved to St. Louis to study at Washington University on the G.I. Bill. Jerry joined chapter 644 of the Jewish War Veterans where he remained an active member well into his ’90’s.

While at Washington U. he befriended a fellow student, Israel Zuckerman. Israel brought him home for shabbat dinner where he met Marion, Israel’s younger sister. Jerry and Marion hit it off and were married in 1951. Around the same time, Jerry became interested in pursuing a career in chiropody, later renamed Podiatry, so he transferred to the Chicago School of Chiropody. After finishing the program he was planning to move back east until Marion, who was now pregnant with their first child, told him in no uncertain terms that they would be staying in St. Louis. So they moved back to St. Louis where Jerry bought the practice of a retiring podiatrist located in South St. Louis.

As Jerry’s podiatric practice grew, so did his family. Jerry and Marion had two more kids so they needed more space. They headed west to Olivette, where they built the house that would be their home for the next 50 years.

At some point early on in his career, Jerry joined Toastmasters. This made him an excellent speaker. It was also where he first started dabbling in magic and where Footso-the-Clown was born. In pursuit of a way to spice up a talk for Toastmasters, Jerry learned a couple of magic tricks. And to these first tricks he added a few more until he was performing a 30 minute show. Seeing an opportunity to educate the public about foot health, he began mixing foot care tips with his show. Pretty soon foot care tips dropped out of  the show, but not his promotion of podiatry. As anyone who saw Footso perform knows, his magic word was “podiatry”. Every magician has a trademark trick. Footso’s was the paper tree.

Jerry also had a strong social consciousness. He became an early and active advocate of handgun control after his good friend Jerry Schwartz was murdered at his place of business. He served on numerous boards throughout his life. He was particularly committed to his beloved morning minyan at the former Shaare Zedek synagogue, where he served as the gabbai for many years. If ever there was a Godwrestler, it was Jerry. But more than anything, Jerry believed in the power and value of community and each person’s responsibility to do their part. Jerry, believed his part was to show up and be counted, even if he couldn’t read the words or prayers or sing. It was important to him to be present.

Jerry had a blessed life. He remained happily married for 71 years with his beloved, “she deary” Marion. He was a partner with her in every way raising their three children, Ellen (Howard), Joyce (Bob) and Howard (Gail). He was the perfect grandfather to his eight grandchildren, Lauren (David), Eric (Hilary), Yonit, Mayaan, Dovran, Ilana (Eitan), Moriah and Caleb and his four great grandchildren, Noah, Lila, Irving and Sully. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Ernest & Jean Cohen and his beloved younger brother Harvey.

Funeral service Tuesday, April 12, 2 PM at BERGER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 9430 Olive Boulevard. Interment follows at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Please visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com for Live Stream details.