Jerry Sternberg shares "Tales of Asheville from an ol' Jewish country boy”

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Jerry Sternberg, third generation Ashevillian will regale us with "Tales of Asheville from an ol' Jewish country boy”. Jerry has earned this right at the age of 93 (b. 1930) and proudly announces that he is the oldest living Jewish native, born in Biltmore hospital, in Biltmore Village, who still lives in Asheville.

He “grew up” on Depot Street, working after school alongside his father’s employees in the scrap metal and hide business and observing the “technique“ of deal making. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, he enlisted in the Navy, became an officer, and served in both Europe and the Far East during the Korean War. When he returned to Asheville he resumed working for his father until 1962 when he opened a surplus, salvage, and trash hauling business.  Not one to retire, Jerry still has as a commercial real estate development and investment business.

Throughout his career Jerry has been involved in philanthropy, locally and nationally. One of his proudest accomplishments was serving on the "young leadership council“ of the United Jewish Appeal.  During the 1960's, this involved traveling the country with a team raising millions of dollars to rescue Jews from hostile countries and help resettle them in Israel.

Jerry has been writing a column in the Mountain Xpress called "the Gospel According to Jerry" for the past 30 years.  Recently this has included a series of articles about growing up Jewish in the small town of Asheville.