Melvin Gold

Melvin Leonard Gold, 88, of Teaneck died May 26, 2014. He was born in Philadelphia and also lived in Israel and later West Orange. He spent summers in Bantam Lake, Conn., for the last 50 years.

Mr. Gold became an actuary at The Prudential in Newark, passing the actuarial exams on the first attempt. He worked for Migdal Insurance in Israel before returning to the United States. He later founded Melvin L. Gold & Associates, an actuarial consultancy. He was instrumental in the growth of several insurance companies, most notably Presidential Life, where he served on the board for years. 

He earned a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. While in college, he proactively partnered with a black bridge player; despite being excluded from numerous tournaments because of race, the duo became nationally ranked college champions.

His studies were interrupted for U.S. Navy service during World War II. 

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In philanthropy, he was a strong supporter of Yiddish culture and the Young Judaea Zionist youth movement. 

He was a sculptor and ran the Jersey Shore Marathon in middle age. 

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shifra “Sherry” (Gerber); three sons, Charles (Anne Kohn) of New York City, Neil of Fair Lawn, and Ronald (Betsy) of Saddle River; his daughter, Nina (Raviv) Ron of Fair Lawn; and seven grandchildren. 

Services were held May 28 with arrangements by Robert Schoem’s Memorial Chapel, Paramus. Memorial contributions may be made to Young Judaea, 575 Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10018; or The National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene, 90 John St., New York, NY 10038.