Jerome (Jerry) H. Routek, 64, of Oneonta, died at home, Tuesday, February 1, 2011 after a brief, courageous battle with cancer with his loving wife Susan beside him.

Jerry was born June 4, 1946 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, the only child of Jaroslav and Bozena (Markova) Routek. After completing his school years in Prague, he attended the Czech College of Arts & Crafts in Turnov, CZ, graduating with a degree in design, metalsmithing and fine arts painting. He next spent two mandatory years of service in the Czech army after which he began his art career as a jeweler with Studio Soluna in Prague.

In August of 1968, following the Soviet and allied Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia imposing communist rule, Jerry made the decision to immigrate to the United States. After successfully crossing the border of Austria by train, he lived and worked in Vienna for several months while securing his Visa and finding placement as a jeweler with a host business in Springfield, Ohio. It was there he began his study of the English language and immersion into American culture in 1969.

Jerry relocated to Connecticut in the early 1970s and began studying to earn his citizenship. His naturalization papers were granted in April 1975; while he was living in NYC pursuing his career as an artist and working on the restoration of warehouses in lower Manhattan which became the district now known as "SOHO". During this period Jerry met and formed many close, lifelong friendships with other ex-patriots from Prague.

In the mid 1970s Jerry set out to see the world visiting much of northern Europe before spending several months living in India and Nepal and, a bit later, Central and South America, as a free lance photographer. His travels greatly influenced his artwork and philosophy of life, and he never forgot the many generous and kind people he met while exploring new and different cultures.

Jerry moved to Delaware County in 1980 where he began working at the East Meredith, NY studio of Czech glass artist Michael Pavlik. In the winter of 1983 he met his future wife Susan, a native of Oneonta, NY. They were married by the bride's uncle at St. James Church, Oneonta, NY in November 1984. The couple lived in Otsego County from 1986 to 1996, before returning to Delaware County where he worked from his current studio until his health declined.

Jerry was an astonishingly gifted, creative person and a highly accomplished artist. Over the years, he exhibited his work in many galleries and shows in cities including NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, New London, CT and Wilmington, DE. Locally he participated on several occasions in the Cooperstown National and Regional Art shows, the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts (UCCCA), Oneonta, NY, the Catskill Regional Arts Society, the West Kortright Centre, East Meredith, NY and most recently the B. Sharpe Gallery, Route 28, Franklin Mountain, Oneonta, NY. In 1987, he custom designed jewelry for the Columbia Pictures release "Me and Him" by German director Doris Dorrie, staring actors Griffin Dunne and Carrie Lowe.

In his free time Jerry loved scouting area auction houses, flea markets and antique shows locally and on his travels with his wife. PD's and Wood Bull Antiques were particular favorites. He was a sports enthusiast, enjoying tennis, soccer and, in more recent years, golfing. He loved viewing international soccer matches and tennis opens on TV and was an avid NY Rangers and NY Jets fan. During the summer and fall, he could usually be found walking the woods, gathering seasonal wild mushrooms which were eagerly devoured in a variety of tasty dishes. He was an enthusiastic cook preparing his favorite Czech specialties for the holidays and get togethers with family and friends.

Jerry and Susan enjoyed many years of travel together, visiting Prague and it's surrounds as well as other countries in Europe on several trips. They loved beach vacations and snorkeling, and visited Mexico and several Caribbean nations on numerous occasions including Barbados, Jamaica, the Bahamas Out Islands, St. Martin and Anguilla, their favorite island they returned to whenever possible. Most often summer vacations were spent in various mountain communities of Vermont or camping on the lakes of the Adirondacks. In August, they were blessed to share several sunny, warm days at a special locale in Rockport, Maine, another state they loved traveling to over the years, and where they spent their first vacation as a married couple on Mt. Desert Isle.

Jerry was a good friend to many and left a lasting impression on everyone he met. His innate charm, wonderful sense of humor, gentle spirit and kind ways touched many. His smile, mischievous manner and twinkling blue eyes could melt any heart, none more so than his wife Susan's. He deeply loved his family and friends, and will always be deeply loved and forever missed by them.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 26 years, Susan (Dunn) Routek; Susan's uncle and aunt, The Rev. Canon Curtis Denney (Mary); several cousins in the Czech Republic; several cousins-in-law in the U.S.; many dearly loved friends both here and in Prague, CZ and the family's beloved feline companions.

In addition to his parents, (who sadly he was never reunited with after leaving Prague); Jerry was predeceased by his mother-in-law Marguerite (Quita) Dunn; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends in the Czech Republic.

At Jerry's request, he was cremated and his ashes will be scattered in a special place at a future date.

Sweet Jerry – "Remembering your touch, your kiss, your warm embrace, I'll find my way back to you, if you'll be waiting…If you dream of me, like I dream of you, in a place that's warm and dark, in a place where I can feel the beating of your heart….I've longed for you, and I have desired, to see your face and smile, to be with you wherever you are…….. Together again, it would feel so good to be, in your arms, where all my journeys end, if you can make a promise, if it's one that you can keep, I vow to come for you, if you wait for me." From "The Promise" by TRACY CHAPMAN, 1994

Please join us for a service in loving remembrance of Jerry at 2 P.M, Saturday, February, 26, 2011 at the Lewis, Hurley, & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz Street, Oneonta, NY, with Chaplain Judith Thistle officiating.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Jerry may be made to The West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith, NY, 13757, Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, P.O. Box 88, Delhi, NY 13753, or Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lhpfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta.