In Memory of Gerald S. Gold

With heavy hearts we share the news that Gerald S. Gold, longtime Legal Aid supporter, has died.

Gerald (Jerry) S. Gold began work at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in 1960 as the chief assistant of Legal Aid’s then-criminal practice, which grew into Cuyahoga County's Public Defender Office. He served as chief assistant under the tutelage of Merle McCurdy, director of the criminal practice; McCurdy was the first African American to work for Legal Aid. Gold assumed the director position in 1962 when McCurdy was appointed by President Kennedy as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Gold left Legal Aid in 1966 to work as a private defense attorney, but Legal Aid never left his heart. In March 1983, as president of the Cleveland Bar Association, Gold unveiled the bar’s new program to help Legal Aid – titled “Cleveland Attorneys Seeking Equity.” The effort appealed to the then 5,500-member bar association to volunteer for two or three pro bono cases annually, or to contribute $250 annually to Legal Aid. Gold said in his announcement this was “an opportunity for the Great Cleveland legal community to provide a significant public service.” Gold was honored at Legal Aid’s 1984 annual meeting for his leadership efforts.

Gold once stated, “my experience with Legal Aid honed my legal skills, but it was really an education in humanity.”

We will greatly miss our close friend, colleague, and advocate.

Click here to see the full obituary from The Plain Dealer.  Gold's family requests gifts be made to Legal Aid in his memory.  You can make a gift using the form below.