Publisher, longtime member of Holy Trinity
Jerry Laux. (Courtesy photo)
Jerrold “Jerry” Roger Laux, of Clinton, beloved husband of A. Marilyn Niedzinski Laux for 25 years, passed away after a long illness Jan. 12 at the age of 88.
Jerry was born in New York City and grew up in Dalton, the son of David N. Laux Sr. and Evelyn Moulton Laux. After his graduation from Dalton High School in 1947, he attended St. Louis University and went on to graduate from the University of Miami (Florida) with a degree in philosophy. He was drafted during the Korean War and served two years in the U.S. Army before receiving an honorable discharge in 1955.
Jerry owned and operated a bookstore in Springfield, Virginia, for several years before joining his brother Dean in The Laux Company, a publisher of business magazines and journals in the fields of medicine, sports, and travel. Jerry sold advertising space in several magazines before being named publisher of The Hearing Journal, the company’s leading publication in the field of hearing technology. Over a period of several years, Jerry quadrupled the advertising revenue of The Hearing Journal and became a leading figure in the hearing aid field. Upon his retirement in 2009, he was honored by the Hearing Industries Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field.
Jerry played football in high school, college, and in a semiprofessional league, and he had a lifelong love of sports. He was a sports car and racing enthusiast, and he drove his own car accordingly for many years. After his retirement he took up golf and loved to discuss his scores and adventures in lively detail. He was also an avid tennis player and continued to play up until the last three years of his life.
Jerry was a member of the Holy Trinity Parish of St. Theresa’s Church in Harvard.
Jerry was predeceased by his twin sister, Joan Laux Hogan. He is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn; his devoted brother, David, and his wife, Elna, of Sarasota, Florida; his devoted brother Dean and his wife, Miryam, of Englewood, Florida; and his devoted brother Michael and his wife, Marisol, of Westport, Connecticut. Jerry is also survived by his loving son Bradley and his wife, Mary Virginia (“Ginny”), of Morehead, Kentucky; his loving son Jeffrey and his wife, Mariska, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; the mother of his children, Denise, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; his stepson Christopher M. Niedzinski and his wife, Roberta, of Clinton; and his stepson Thomas J. Niedzinski and his wife, Mia, of San Diego, California. Other surviving family members include his grandchildren, Elisabeth Laux, Matthias Laux, and Lucas Niedzinski; his brother-in-law Robert Coppola, his wife, Linda, and their son, Jason, of Massapequa, New York; his brother-in-law Raymond Coppola of San Diego, California; and many nieces and nephews and their children.
Family and friends were to gather for his memorial Mass and a celebration of life Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. in Holy Trinity Parish of St. Theresa the Little Flower Church, 15 Still River Road, Harvard.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in memory of Jerrold R. Laux to Loaves & Fishes at loavesfishespantry.org, or mail a check to Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Inc., P.O. Box 1, Ayer, MA 01432.
