On December 26th, 2007, The Arc of Philadelphia/PDDC—and the world—lost a great friend and an extraordinary human being.

	Jerry Weisman first joined The Arc of Philadelphia as a volunteer in 1957—beginning a five decade journey that would eventually touch the lives of hundreds of people with developmental disabilities.  Though in later years he was an Arc/PDDC Board member, Jerry represented much more than that to us.  In many ways, he was our conscience and our memory.  His lifelong dedication and integrity gave his voice a weight that few others could match. From the beginning, Jerry was fiercely devoted to the needs of people with developmental disabilities. As Director of Recreation, Group and Social activities in
the early 1960s, Jerry created programs that forever changed the service landscape for people with special needs in Philadelphia.  He understood early on the importance of integration, designing programs that brought children with and without disabilities together.  He also collaborated with Philadelphia City Schools to establish the Evening School for Exceptional Adults, a continuing adult education program that is still in operation. For 40 years, Jerry worked as a teacher, counselor, and principal in the City of Philadelphia Schools.  Upon his retirement, Jerry joined the Board of Directors of The Arc of Philadelphia/PDDC.  He was extremely active on the Board, serving on numerous committees.   He served as the President of the Board between 2000 and 2003.  He was also elected Regional Representative to the Arc of Pennsylvania, serving as Regional Board president between 2005 and 2006.  Jerry maintained a long-standing involvement in the Philadelphia Local Right-to-Education Task Force.
Jerry’s commitment to social causes—especially educational, civil rights, and artistic—remained a constant theme throughout his life. Each week he read with children at an inter-generational reading program at The John. F McCloskey Public Elementary School.  He was an active volunteer at the Painted Bride Theater.  He was also a Board Member of Frankford Style, a local community-arts organization. Jerry’s vision will carry on in the hearts of minds of everyone at The Arc of Philadelphia/PDDC.  He will be greatly missed.