Gerald S. Kolbert MD died a month shy of his 91 st birthday, on March 10, 2026. His beloved wife and partner Marlene was holding his hand. He had been in failing health and had made it clear his race was run. His death was peaceful and blessedly quick at the end.

He was born to immigrant parents in The Bronx on April 29, 1935. His childhood, while not the easiest, was spent within the large extended Feldman family on his mother’s side. He went to NYC public schools at a time when they were the pride of the nation, then got his college and medical education at public universities in NY and Wisconsin.

He and Marlene (Maass) married on June 29, 1958. They had met via the machinations of each of their best friends, who were already an item. Her parents were dubious but quickly came to treasure him greatly. Shortly after a stint in the Air Force, he and Marlene and their two young children Betsy and Danny settled in Larchmont, his hometown, for the next sixty years. He was close by to his fiercely loyal and protective older sister Harriet and her family.

She took great pride in her brother’s accomplishments, particularly after their mother’s death when he was 19.

He spent his entire career as an ophthalmologist at Montefiore Hospital, at its original campus in The Bronx. He also taught at its sister institution, the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, and mentored so many generations of eye doctors that some of them are also retired. He was active with The Bronx Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and served as its president.

Marlene and he, with or without the kids, traveled the world. They went all over Europe (including Yugoslavia and East Berlin) and the US, eastern and South Africa, and they were among the very early wave of tourists to China in 1986, where they visited a Chinese colleague who had spent time at “Monte” on exchange. Several family trips to a lodge in Estes Park, CO lived large in memory and provided many oft-repeated stories over the decades.

They also took full advantage of the cultural center of the world, frequently going to concerts and theater, often in the company of his in-laws, and visiting museums. He needlessly worried about his success as a father, so was especially delighted when his children finally got around to providing him with grandchildren. Betsy lived in Larchmont for several years when she was young, which was particularly wonderful for him.

He had more than his share of health problems over the years. He came down with Crohn’s in his 40s, which precipitated several major surgeries over the decades. His son suggested that perhaps he should have a zipper installed, and made more than one hurried trip to NY, not sure whether his father would emerge successfully from the latest procedure. He had neck and back issues later in life as well. He bore them, if not silently, at least resignedly.

After retirement, he spent many years volunteering at the Friends of the Larchmont Public Library and the Westchester Historical Society. Thanks to some other health issues, he was in and out of rehab and the hospital in his last months, but fortunately was able to come home at the end, and was able to say goodbye to his children, grandchildren, nieces and their kids and grandkids, and even his and Marlene’s old childhood friends who made all that followed possible.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, his children and their spouses John Kleiner and Laura Cianchette, his grandchildren Ned, Matthew & Aaron Kleiner and Gabe and Phoebe Kolbert, his nieces Robyn Cimbol and Emily Davis and their families, and his sister-in-law Carol Einhorn and her family. He is fondly remembered by his many friends and colleagues, and his ROMEO (Really Old Men Eating Out) dining companions.

There will be a memorial service on Sunday, March 22nd at 2:00 PM at Larchmont Temple, with a reception at his house after.

Memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the Larchmont Public Library.