Gerald Schneider, an accountant known as Jerry, died of a heart attack in New York City on Feb. 8. He was 70 and had lived in Springs since 1985.
Mr. Schneider studied accounting at Brooklyn College, and then moved to Chappaqua, N.Y., where his son, David, was born. He would commute to Manhattan, where he had started his own accounting firm, GDS Financial. Father and son were close, and David Schneider, who survives, went to work at his father’s office.
Away from work, he spent time on the water, whether swimming or boating or taking his annual trip to Block Island. Music, too, was an important part of his life, from singing karaoke to listening to the Grateful Dead. A fan of New York sports, he rooted for the Islanders and the Yankees in particular, and he shared that enthusiasm with his son. They also played hockey together.
Mr. Schneider devoted much time to the Kiwanis Club of East Hampton, serving on its scholarship committee and running its Christmas tree sale.
Born on Feb. 15, 1954, in Flatbush, Brooklyn, to Sidney Schneider and the former Rose Solock, he grew up there, graduating from Midwood High School.
He was a “dedicated dog lover,” his family said, “and loved living on the East End. He had a wonderful sense of humor and respect for all people and a love of life.”
In addition to his son, who lives in East Hampton, he is survived by two cousins, Sheryl Darby of Florida and Carol Straus of New Jersey.
A service was held on Sunday at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. Donations in Mr. Schneider’s name can be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at aspca.org, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org, or the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons at arfhamptons.org.
