Gerald L. Friedman

GERALD L. FRIEDMAN

Gerald “Jerry” Friedman passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m. in San Marcos, California. He was 87 years old.
Jerry was born on March 12, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Milton and Sally (Katz) Friedman. The middle of three boys, he was remembered as a tall, skinny kid with blond hair, blue eyes, and an artistic spirit.
From an early age, Jerry loved art. He earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence before moving to California to continue his studies at the Chouinard Art Institute, which later became part of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Like many young artists, he dreamed of making a living through his artwork.
Life, however, had other plans.
In 1967, Jerry married the love of his life, Ruth Bornheim of Düsseldorf, Germany. Together they built a marriage that lasted nearly 60 years. After welcoming their first daughter, Candiece, in 1969, and their second daughter, Brina, in 1974, Jerry set aside his artistic ambitions to devote himself to providing for his family.
He spent much of his career in sales and later, repairing screen doors, installing mirrored wardrobe doors, and tackling just about anything involving a door or a screen. He took tremendous pride in his work, but what he enjoyed most was talking with his customers. Jerry genuinely cared about people and loved hearing their stories.
Although he worked hard to support his family, art remained the thread that ran through his entire life.
Jerry created hundreds of paintings over the years, working in watercolor, oil, acrylic, and even airbrush. His creativity extended far beyond the canvas. Whether he was repairing something around the house, building a tool, or inventing a new solution to an old problem, everything he touched carried his artistic flair.
His family affectionately joked that he had perfected the art of “Jerry-rigging.” Long before it became a common phrase in their household, Jerry was known for over-engineering clever fixes and homemade inventions that somehow always reflected his unique way of thinking. If there was a complicated way to solve a simple problem, Jerry could usually make it even more ingenious.
A quiet and serious man, Jerry loved spending time in his garage surrounded by his tools. He enjoyed restoring classic cars, including his beloved turquoise-and-white 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door post and a 1974 Super Beetle convertible. During the years he lived in Simi Valley, he became a familiar sight driving the Bel Air while pulling a trailer for his screen door business.
In the final chapter of his life, Jerry found unexpected joy attending Gary and Mary West PACE in San Marcos. He often spoke emotionally about the friendships he made there and the conversations he shared with people from every walk of life. Whether speaking with someone who was elderly, disabled, homeless, or simply lonely, Jerry believed everyone deserved kindness, respect, and someone willing to listen. Those relationships gave him a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment, and he often said he felt proud to be part of that community.
How do you summarize 87 years of a life so well lived?
To those who knew him, Jerry will be remembered as a gentle man, an artist, a craftsman, and above all, a genuinely kind man who cared deeply about other people. His paintings will continue to hang on walls, but his greatest masterpiece was the quiet, steady life he built for his family and the countless people whose lives he touched through simple acts of conversation, generosity, and compassion.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Sally Friedman, and his brothers, Marvin and Ben Friedman.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Ruth Friedman; his daughters, Candiece Friedman and Brina Bujkovsky (Gus); and his cherished grandchildren, Ryder and Willow Bujkovsky.
The family will hold a private ceremony to celebrate Jerry’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you take time to create something beautiful, lend a listening ear to someone who needs it, or simply perform an unexpected act of kindness—gestures that would have made Jerry smile.