obituaries
DJ Jerry Blavat Dies at 82
J Andy Gotlieb | JE Editor
erry Blavat, a legendary disc
jockey and music impresario
known as “The Geator With the
Heater” and the “Boss With the Hot
Sauce” died on Jan. 20. He was 82.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported
that an autoimmune neuromuscular
disease called myasthenia gravis and
other health problems were the causes
of death.

Blavat grew up in South Philadelphia,
the son of an Italian Catholic mother
and an absentee Jewish father, accord-
ing to a 2016 Jewish Exponent article
about his induction into the Broadcast
Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame.

His parents met at the movies when
his racketeer father ducked into the
theater to escape the police.

“There was an empty aisle seat, so
my father sits down and puts his arms
around my mother,” Blavat told the
22 JANUARY 26, 2023 | JEWISH EXPONENT
Exponent. Weeks later, she ran away
and married him.

The Inquirer said his father was
known as Louis the Gimp and ran an
illegal bookmaking operation while his
mother was called “Lucy the Riveter”
for working at the Navy Yard during
World War II.

Blavat said he didn’t get much
exposure to the Jewish religion, saying
he was “raised by the nuns and the
Italian side,” but he did experience the
cultural side.

“I saw the Jewish world, and I saw
the Italian world,” he told the Exponent,
describing visits with his father at Lew
Tendler’s, a Center City watering hole
that closed in 1970.

“I’d see the Jewish guys drinking
bourbon in suits,” Blavat said. “The
Italians at home were in T-shirts playing
bocce.” Blavat got his start as a teenage
dancer on “American Bandstand,”
family once a year, during the
holidays. But my sechel was
Jewish. Aside from appearances on
“American Bandstand,” Blavat
was road manager for Danny
and Juniors of “At the Hop”
fame. In 1960, he started his
first radio show, on which he
broke many unknown acts.

In 1965, he made the jump
to TV, first hosting “The
Discophonic Scene” and then
“Jerry’s Place.” He also was in a
1968 episode of “The Monkees”
and made cameos in movies
“Desperately Seeking Susan”
and “Rocky V,” according to
xpn.org. He served as an on-air
talent for numerous area radio
stations over the years, popular-
izing the oldies format. He also
owned a club called Memories
in Margate, New Jersey, where
Jerry Blavat
Courtesy of Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia he continued to broadcast on
his Geator Gold Radio network.

Blavat was included in a Rock
helping to pick records for original and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit in 1998
host Bob Horn and becoming friends and published his memoir in 2011.

During his career, Blavat rubbed
with Sammy Davis Jr. — Blavat made
a name for himself by promoting Black elbows with many celebrities, serving
musical artists — who asked him how as Don Rickles’ valet and meeting
Frank Sinatra, who nicknamed him
he learned to dance.

“Everyone in South Philly dances like “matchstick” because of his slim build,
the Inquirer reported. There also were
this,” he replied.

Blavat listened to local Black DJs and rumors of alleged connections to
learned that popular tunes sung by organized crime.

Long after Blavat’s heyday, his influ-
white singers were often written and
performed previously by Black artists. ence could still be felt in Philadelphia.

“I tell people everywhere I go that
He’d push Horn and others to play
those versions, earning the respect of I’m the product of the Philadelphia
music scene. People ask me, what
Black musicians.

“I love the Geator,” Aretha Franklin does that mean? I tell them it comes
said in Blavat’s biography “You Only down to one thing: I grew up listening
to the Geator,” Todd Rundgren said
Rock Once: My Life in Music.”
As Blavat’s professional life evolved, when he inducted the Hooters into the
it afforded him more exposure to male Philadelphia Music Alliance Hall Walk
of Fame in 2019, 26 years after Blavat
Jewish role models.

“All the record label owners, the club himself was inducted, according to the
owners, they were Jewish guys,” Blavat Inquirer.

“Look, I’ve been blessed,” Blavat
said in the 2016 Exponent article,
describing how their families embraced said in 2016. “I never intended to be
him and taught him the music business. where I am today.” ■
“I probably saw my Jewish side of the agotlieb@midatlanticmedia.com



CHACHKIN
SYLVIA (nee Smilovitz) on January 18,
2023. Beloved wife of the late Harvey;
Loving mother of Susan Silverstein
(Robert) and Margie Chachkin; Cherished
Grandmother of
Candice (Bryan
Beauchamp); “Aunt Sylvia” to numerous
nieces and nephews, great and great-
great nieces and nephews. Known for her
lovingkindness, grace, understated ele-
gance, excellent memory, and abundance
of common sense, she brought family tra-
ditions to life through her cooking and bak-
ing. Sylvia will be missed for the love she
shared and for the strength she instilled in
others. Contributions in her memory may
be made to Beth Or (www.bethor.org).

FIELDS YETTA (nee Metcoff), January 14,
2023, of Bala Cynwyd, PA. Beloved
wife of the late Dr. Max Fields (2008);
loving mother of Jack Fields (Iris) and
Phyllis Chapell (fi ancé Steve Jewett).

She was buried at Montefi ore Cemetery
on January 16th. Due to Covid re-
strictions, the burial was private and
shiva was not held. Contributions to
the Alzheimer’s Association in Yetta’s
memory would be greatly appreciated.

JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com FORMAN
BURTON - January 18, 2023 of
Philadelphia, PA. Beloved husband of
the Bernice (nee Blinderman) and the
late Kay (nee Borbas); loving father of
Howard Forman (Barbara) and Tami
Brauer and step-father of Joyce, Yvette,
and Ben; adoring grandfather to Brooke
(Rad), Colby (Brandon), Chad, Brandon
(Colleen), Devyn (Sean), Jordan, Zach,
Allie, Samantha, Emily and great-grandfa-
ther of Charlie, Penny, Katriella. Burt was
a well-known and loved science and math
teacher at Fels Junior High. His love of
teaching continued into adulthood where
he ran the successful Burt’s Brain Games
program at the Klein Life JCC. In lieu of
fl owers, contributions in Burt’s memory
may be made to Klein Life Branch Senior
Programming (kleinlife.org).

JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com GREES
FRANCES nee Kaplan January 18,
2023. Wife of the late Morris. Mother
of Arleen (late Steven) Weinstein and
Marcia (Don) Rutberg. Contributions
in her memory may be made to the
Breathing Room Foundation, 8310
Brookside Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
Film HIMELSTEIN
MORGAN Y. on January 17, 2023. Born
on a farm in Lebanon CT, Himelstein
was educated in Hartford public
schools before attending Wesleyan
University. There he earned his B.A.

with Honors and High Distinction in
French literature and was elected to
Phi Beta Kappa. Moving to New York,
he received an M.A. from Columbia
University and then started teaching
English Literature at the University of
Rochester. His education and career
were interrupted by service with the
United States Army in Korea during the
height of the Korean War, after which
he fi nished his Ph.D. at Columbia with
Eric Bentley as his mentor. He joined
the faculty of Adelphi University on
Long Island and began a writing career
with the book “Drama Was a Weapon,”
an account of the Communist Party’s
failed attempt to use the Broadway
stage during the Great Depression
as “a weapon in the class struggle.”
The book stayed in print for 25 years.

Himelstein’s writing also included
English translations of three operettas
by Offenbach and one by Strauss,
which were carried by Mapleson
Music Library and performed na-
tionwide. A New York production of
“Orpheus in the Underworld” was
praised by the New York Times critic
Alan Kozinn as “amusing and nicely
fl owing.” Morgan Himelstein was mar-
ried for 40 years to Libby Rosenfeld,
who predeceased him. He leaves two
sons Dr. Andrew (Dr. Rima) and Dr.

Bruce (Lisa Simons), grandchildren
Danny, Robyn, Rebecca, Jeffrey, and
Miriam, and great-grandson Rylan.

Contributions in his memory may be
made to MAZON https://mazon.org or
the American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee www.jdc.org.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
KELMAN JONAH “SONNY” on January 17,
2023. Beloved husband of Linda
(nee Laveson); Loving father of Dr.

Michael Kelman (Randi); Dear brother
of Jean Kinney; Devoted grandfather
of Jennifer (Edward) and Amanda.

Contributions in his memory may be
made to Delaware Valley Veteran’s
Home, 2701 Southampton Rd., Phila.,
PA 19154, www.dmva.pa.gov
GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
LEVIN LLOYD S. - January 15, 2023 of
North Wales, Pa. Beloved husband
of Paula (nee Ginsburg). Devoted fa-
ther of Rachelle Levin, Eileen Levine-
Buchholtz (Gary) and Andrea Lerman
(Larry). Proud grandfather of Jamie
and Ilana. The family requests that
contributions in his memory be made
to Wounded Warrior Foundation or a
charity of the donor’s choice.

JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com Continued from page 20
MARKS EDWARD I., January 14, 2023, of
Phila. PA; beloved husband of 76
blessed years to Elizabeth (nee
Sabreen); loving father of Bruce Marks
(Bonnie-Kay), Karen Levy (Nadav),
and Ronald Marks (Susan); cherished
grandfather of Micah Kagan (Amy),
Haddas Cohen (Hannan), Shelah
Mashat (Sharon), Aaron Marks (Emily),
Limor Knafo (Chaim), Hannah Marks
(David Charny), Emily Marks (fi an-
cée Michael Foley), Philip Marks and
the late Bryan Marks; also survived
by 12 adoring great-grandchildren (7
in Israel, 5 in US). He was the dedi-
cated son of the late Irma and Philip
Marks. Edward was a proud veteran
of WWII from 1942-1945 and in the
Naval Reserves from 1947-1960. He
was the past President of Beth Chaim
Synagogue, Feasterville, PA and en-
joyed more than 40 trips to Israel. He
was a graduate of Central class 178
(1942) and Drexel (electrical engineer
1948). His joy was his grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. Edward also
volunteered at various Israeli Defense
Forces bases and hospitals for many
years. In lieu of fl owers, contributions
in Edward’s memory may be made
to The Lone Soldier Center (lonesol-
diercenter.com), or a charity of the do-
nor’s choice.

JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com MELES
MARLENE (nee Nosnik), passed on
January 9th, 2023. Beloved wife of
Sonny Meles; loving mother of Audrey,
Sharon (Dr. Debra Braverman),
and Susan (Robin Eisenberg).

Adoring grandmother of Ari and Mira.

Contributions in her memory may be
made to Temple Beth Ami, 9201 Old
Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
19115 or Magen David Adom https://
afmda.org/donate/. GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
WEISS NETTIE LEVITT, wife of Abe Levitt
(dec) and Harold Weiss(dec) passed
away on 1/15/23 at age 106. She was
the beloved mother of Jerry, Harvey
Richard, and Joel (dec) Levitt and sis-
ter Frances Schleifer. She is also sur-
vived by her 10 grandchildren and 17
great grandchildren.

Joseph Levine & Sons
www.levinefuneral.com ended hers, when I learned that my mother too had ended her
life, and that deep down I felt the same predisposition to despair
and death. I thought to myself: Either I kill myself, too, or I create
something really crazy and extraordinary.”
For the next two years, Salomon did just that, creating
some 1,300 paintings about her life in exile. She accompanied
these paintings with text and musical cues that included Bach,
Schubert, Mahler and the German anthem “Deutschlandlied,”
creating an entire multimedia body of work.

As the Nazi grip tightened in France, Salomon realized the
danger she faced and brought a box containing all her paintings
to a friend, the town’s doctor. The fi lm recounts what she tells
him: “Take care of it. This is my whole life.” Just weeks later,
Salomon, fi ve months pregnant, was sent to Auschwitz, where
she died on Oct. 10, 1943.

‘A strong belief in art and love’
While Salomon’s work includes depictions of Nazis, antisemi-
tism and persecution, the majority of “Life? or Theatre?” — and
therefore, the fi lm — is dedicated to the explosive inner life and
autobiography of its creator. She explores suicide, Freudian lust,
psychological distress, music, philosophy and her own artistic
impulses. Yet “Life? or Theatre?” is unmistakably a product of its time, and
as such, the fi lm includes historical images of Hitler’s rise. Though
the French fi lmmakers don’t identify as Jewish themselves,
Delphine said that she and her sister have some Jewish family,
and she noted the fi lm’s content is more relevant than ever.

“Antisemitism never did end, but now in France and in Europe,
it is stronger and stronger than ever since 1945,” she said. “We
really see it, and we talk to it nearly each day. We can’t ignore it.”
“With all these strange times we’re living in, Charlotte gives
you strength because she really crossed the times with a strong
belief in art and love,” she added.

The fi lm ends with astonishing footage from the early 1960s
of Salomon’s father and stepmother, who survived hiding in
the Netherlands, looking through their daughter’s paintings as
they are interviewed about her. “I was surprised when I discov-
ered her work,” says her father Albert Salomon. He had known
nothing of his late daughter’s project until the couple visited
Villefranche-sur-Mer after the war, hoping to fi nd some traces
of Charlotte’s life.

“The work is very, very vivid — very expressive of life in all
its aspects,” said Delphine of Salomon’s art — and the Coulin
sisters, in turn, were inspired to bring the work to a broader
audience. In 2019, Muriel directed her fi rst theater piece,
“Charlotte,” a rendition of Salomon’s work for the stage that
played in Paris at the Théâtre du Rond Point. When the COVID-
19 pandemic shut down the production, the Coulins transposed
their medium to fi lm.

Delphine added that they were also drawn to what she called
the “poignant story” of Salomon’s brief life, now immortalized by
her singular creative impulse in the face of adversity.

“In diffi cult times — and her times were probably the most
diffi cult times ever — she really believed in art,” she said. “How
art makes you survive. How it can give you a piece of eternity.

We wouldn’t speak about her this way if she had not been able
to make this wonderful work.” ■
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