THE FLATS – Georgia Tech athletics mourns the passing of Tech alumnus and longtime Yellow Jackets supporter Jere Goldsmith, who died last week at the age of 87.
An Atlanta native, Goldsmith was born on Feb. 20, 1934 and attended North Fulton H.S. He matriculated to Georgia Tech, where his father, Jere II, was a three-year football letterwinner from 1930-32. As a freshman in 1952, Jere IV was a manager for Tech’s third national championship football team. He graduated with a degree in business administration and management in 1956.
He went on to enjoy a 47-year career with Merrill Lynch from 1964 until his retirement in 2011, rising to first vice president of the company’s private banking and investment group. He also served as Merrill Lynch’s director of community relations, was a 20-year member of the company’s Circle of Excellence and a member of its advisory council to management.
For more than 60 years following his graduation from Georgia Tech, he provided substantial time and philanthropy to his alma mater. He served on the boards of the Georgia Tech Foundation, the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, the Georgia Tech Athletic Association and the Alexander-Tharpe Fund. He was a 65-year member of the Institute’s Roll Call and an A-T Fund Jack Thompson Society member. The GTAA’s primary conference room in the Edge-Rice Center is named in his honor, as is the Ferris-Goldsmith Trading Floor that he co-established in the Scheller College of Business.
In addition to his service to Tech, Goldsmith served on the boards of the Atlanta History Center, the Historic Oakland Foundation, the Sports Champions of Greater Atlanta and the Candler Fund and was a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way. He was also a life deacon and chairman of the board of deacons at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church.
“On behalf of the entire Georgia Tech athletics family, I offer our deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Jere Goldsmith, especially his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Georgia Tech director of athletics Todd Stansbury said. “Jere’s love and support of Georgia Tech made a difference in the lives of generations of Tech students. He will be greatly missed.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jere II and Allene, and his wife of 58 years, Barbara. He is survived by three children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service celebrating Jere Goldsmith IV’s life will be held on Friday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. and there will be a lunch reception following the service. Masking is required. A live stream of the service will be available at https://livestream.com/spdl/JereGoldsmith. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church (https://www.spdl.org), the Georgia Tech Foundation (https://www.gtf.gatech.edu), One Collective for the ministry of Paul and Elizabeth Musser (https://give.onecollective.org) or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for the ministry of Glenn and Kim Goldsmith (https://donate.intervarsity.org). Online Condolences may be made at https://www.hmpattersonarlington.com.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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