Funeral Details

Jerome S. Sacks

May 8, 1931 - January 2, 2023

Interment - Private

Memorial Contributions

Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
www.splcenter.org




OBITUARY

Jerome S. Sacks, 91, passed away peacefully on Jan. 2, 2023. Bronx native, Chicagoan by choice since 1961, and lover of arts but especially jazz, Jerry was a graduate of Bronx High School of Science and Cornell University (BA, PhD).

He capped his distinguished career at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois by founding the National Institute of Statistical Sciences, which established the Jerome Sacks Award for Cross-Disciplinary Research in his honor. He retired from Duke University.

Predeceased by his wife, Karin, Jerry is survived by daughters Sophia Sacks and Monica Freeland (Ryan), grandchildren Roxanne and Elliot, niece Anne Greenberg and nephew Richard Sacks (Marcia), and partner Mary Ellen Bock, also a statistician.

Jerry’s unfailing wit, creative intelligence, and generosity endeared him to family, friends, and colleagues of all ages.
Services were private. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104, www.splcenter.org. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.


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Jerry was both a fantastic scientist and a kind, brave and radical human being. I am very proud to have had him as a close friend and devastated at his loss. The statistical community will celebrate his achievement, which are many. I want to say what a great guy he was and that I have many wonderful memories. I was with him in North Carolina around when he did the deal to set up NISS of which he was founding Director. I visited him in Chicago, when he was still at Northwestern and then again at the University of Illinois. On many occasions and with others, we would talk long into the evening, only to force ourselves up early in the morning to do serious work, including grant applications for large amounts of money. I remember the UCLA workshop when he took a small piece of paper from his pocket and explained how running experiments on supercomputers would save the world. He may turn out right. I am not quite sure if he really knew that he was so famous in Europe. But he did visit, we send many commiserations and will be celebrating his life.

When I first visited the family in Chicago I remember Sophia or Monica being sent out to buy me ice cream. I was lucky to see Jerry and Mary Ellen so happy when I met them a couple of times for dinner in Chicago and we recall meeting Jerry with Monica and family in London.nnmmmm

Jan and I and "boys" send deepest sympathy to your all and the whole family. Jerry was one of the smartest, whittiest, kindest and most human people I have ever known. He inspired our love.

Henry Wynn
January 12, 2023
Jerry was my grad school mentor at Illinois and quickly became my mentor for life. He taught me so much about how think about statistics and science. I would not have been able to take the excellent journey of my life without him.
While I learned much from him professionally, his greatest gift was his warmth, grace, and humor. We could always count on an evening of great food, wine, and conversation when we had a chance to visit him in Chicago.
He will always be in my thoughts.

Robert Buck
February 6, 2023