Jerome M. Greenblatt, a World War II Navy veteran and bank official, and former longtime communications director of the Jewish Community Center, who was active in civic and political organizations, died Friday, April 18, 2008, at a nursing home in St. Louis County. He was 84 and a longtime resident of West County.

Mr. Greenblatt was a vice president of two banks locally, Plaza First National Bank of West Port during the late 1970s and Landmark Bancshares Corp. in the early 1980s. In 1983, he joined the Jewish Community Centers Association (now the JCC), as director of communications, serving 17 years in that position.

In the early 1970s, Mr. Greenblatt served two terms as mayor of Crystal Lake Park and chairman of the Frontenac Police and Fire Commission.

A native of Milwaukee, Mr. Greenblatt attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. He helped develop guided missiles in Washington, and saw action with a Navy squadron in the Pacific Theater.

Mr. Greenblatt served as president of the Board of Directors in Medicine of Jewish Hospital and four terms as president of the West Port Area Chamber of Commerce.

Funeral services were held at Berger Memorial Chapel. Burial was in Milwaukee.

Among the survivors are a daughter, Gail G. Armstrong of Chesterfield; a son, William Grant Greenblatt of Orange County, Calif.; and four grandchildren.