Obituary for Arnold Marc Fertig
Rabbi Arnold Marc Fertig (b. Sept. 21, 1950) died Sept. 4, 2023, surrounded by family. Devoted husband of Gail Fertig. Father of Benjamin (Elana) Fertig and Ari (Elizabeth) Fertig. Grandfather of Indigo, Aviva, Eitan, and Elijah Fertig. Brother of Rhoda (David) Cobin. Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Beth Shalom, Melrose, MA.
Arnie was someone for whom relationships and helping people were intrinsically linked to his core. He helped organize and build thriving Jewish communities wherever he went, in great part, through his empathy and connection with others. He was driven by a sense of community service and took immense pleasure in counseling people about spiritual, family, and life matters.
Born in Rome, New York and raised in Cortland, Arnie Fertig cared about tikkun olam - repairing the world - family, and a great meal with a glass of wine. He enjoyed photography and spending time savoring the small details of life, such as the flight of a bird or the colors and shapes of a flower.
At the University of Vermont, he studied philosophy, which led him down the path towards becoming a rabbi. He graduated from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, where he met his first wife, Judy Pinnolis. After graduating, Arnie’s first congregation was in Gadsden, Alabama. From there, he and Judy moved to Concord, New Hampshire, where he served as rabbi and had their first son, Benjamin. Arnie later served as rabbi for a congregation in Binghamton, New York, where they had their second son, Ari. The family then moved to Newton, Massachusetts, so that Arnie could pursue his Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Judy and Arnie were married for 18 years before they divorced.
Arnie worked at B’nai Brith as New England Regional Director and at the American Physicians Fellowship For Medicine In Israel as National Director of Development. He also became interested in helping people navigate their careers and job searches, work he considered parallel to his other kinds of service. This business and passion would ultimately develop into JobHunterCoach, which Arnie founded and successfully ran for many years, helping hundreds of people advance their careers.
In 1999, Arnie married Gail. They were greatly devoted to each other. Gail’s deep kindness and strength of love were guiding lights for Arnie until and through his final days. Arnie loved everything about Gail, but especially how she instantly becomes friends with everyone she meets, and how her infectious laugh truly brings others joy. Though terrified of dogs when he was younger, Gail’s love of animals brought him first Davka and then Zugi, both of whom he loved dearly. He would often say he hoped that if reincarnation existed, he would come back as Gail’s dog.
For twenty-one and a half years, he served as rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Melrose, Massachusetts, where he made his home with Gail. He helped grow this community, build a new synagogue, and served the people of TBS in ways large and small. He had in Melrose deep friendships and roots that he fostered over decades of being the rabbi there. He was dedicated to serving the whole Melrose community, including through Rotary, the Human Rights Commission, and through the Melrose Clergy Association. At the end of his career as a rabbi, he was proud to have received a key to the city of Melrose.
A memorial service will be held at Temple Beth Shalom, 21 East Foster St., Melrose on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 11:00AM. Shiva will take place Thursday, 7pm-9pm, and Friday, 4pm-6pm, at Temple Beth Shalom, and Saturday through Tuesday at Gail Fertig’s home from 7pm-9pm each day.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to T’ruah (truah.org/) or Temple Beth Shalom (tbsma.org/).
For Service Webcast, click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjooiVzmPLJvtPwYo8hRF3A
Arnie was someone for whom relationships and helping people were intrinsically linked to his core. He helped organize and build thriving Jewish communities wherever he went, in great part, through his empathy and connection with others. He was driven by a sense of community service and took immense pleasure in counseling people about spiritual, family, and life matters.
Born in Rome, New York and raised in Cortland, Arnie Fertig cared about tikkun olam - repairing the world - family, and a great meal with a glass of wine. He enjoyed photography and spending time savoring the small details of life, such as the flight of a bird or the colors and shapes of a flower.
At the University of Vermont, he studied philosophy, which led him down the path towards becoming a rabbi. He graduated from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, where he met his first wife, Judy Pinnolis. After graduating, Arnie’s first congregation was in Gadsden, Alabama. From there, he and Judy moved to Concord, New Hampshire, where he served as rabbi and had their first son, Benjamin. Arnie later served as rabbi for a congregation in Binghamton, New York, where they had their second son, Ari. The family then moved to Newton, Massachusetts, so that Arnie could pursue his Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Judy and Arnie were married for 18 years before they divorced.
Arnie worked at B’nai Brith as New England Regional Director and at the American Physicians Fellowship For Medicine In Israel as National Director of Development. He also became interested in helping people navigate their careers and job searches, work he considered parallel to his other kinds of service. This business and passion would ultimately develop into JobHunterCoach, which Arnie founded and successfully ran for many years, helping hundreds of people advance their careers.
In 1999, Arnie married Gail. They were greatly devoted to each other. Gail’s deep kindness and strength of love were guiding lights for Arnie until and through his final days. Arnie loved everything about Gail, but especially how she instantly becomes friends with everyone she meets, and how her infectious laugh truly brings others joy. Though terrified of dogs when he was younger, Gail’s love of animals brought him first Davka and then Zugi, both of whom he loved dearly. He would often say he hoped that if reincarnation existed, he would come back as Gail’s dog.
For twenty-one and a half years, he served as rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Melrose, Massachusetts, where he made his home with Gail. He helped grow this community, build a new synagogue, and served the people of TBS in ways large and small. He had in Melrose deep friendships and roots that he fostered over decades of being the rabbi there. He was dedicated to serving the whole Melrose community, including through Rotary, the Human Rights Commission, and through the Melrose Clergy Association. At the end of his career as a rabbi, he was proud to have received a key to the city of Melrose.
A memorial service will be held at Temple Beth Shalom, 21 East Foster St., Melrose on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 11:00AM. Shiva will take place Thursday, 7pm-9pm, and Friday, 4pm-6pm, at Temple Beth Shalom, and Saturday through Tuesday at Gail Fertig’s home from 7pm-9pm each day.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to T’ruah (truah.org/) or Temple Beth Shalom (tbsma.org/).
For Service Webcast, click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjooiVzmPLJvtPwYo8hRF3A