Abram Gertner

April 13, 1946 – October 10, 2026

Abram Gertner, 80, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Following the antisemitic purge of Jews carried out by Poland's communist government under the guise of an anti-Zionist campaign during Marzec 1968, he left Poland as a Jewish refugee and found asylum in Sweden, where he went on to earn a degree from Lund University.

A computer programmer by profession, Abram had a lifelong fascination with technology and a natural curiosity about how things worked. Long before the latest gadgets became everyday essentials, he was exploring new programming languages, upgrading the family's home electronics, and keeping up with the newest computers, cameras, and mobile phones. He enjoyed staying on top of the latest developments in consumer technology, an interest that stayed with him throughout his life.

Abram also loved music, travel, and good food. He enjoyed following international music competitions, particularly the Eurovision Song Contest and Italy's Sanremo Music Festival, often watching alongside Irene. In retirement, he explored more of the world, including trips with his wife and daughter, Susan, to the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Israel, Florida, and Texas.

Abram enjoyed cooking, particularly grilling in the backyard and preparing traditional Polish and Jewish dishes, including homemade chicken soup and borscht. He also made a particularly good gravlax — a favorite of his daughter, Susan — and appreciated a good meal, whether it was gefilte fish, herring, a perfectly cooked steak, or a slice of cheesecake or tiramisu.

Quiet and reserved by nature, Abram was a thoughtful, practical man who preferred solving problems to dwelling on them. He approached life's challenges with a steady, levelheaded demeanor, rarely one to make a big fuss. Behind his reserved exterior was a quiet sense of humor that would occasionally make an appearance, especially when he was feeling relaxed and among familiar company. He was also the person who kept the household running, diligently managing everything from finances and insurance to home repairs and everyday logistics.

Abram was predeceased by his parents, Chaim Gertner and Michla Galper.

He is survived by his wife, Irene Gertner; his daughter, Susan Gertner; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Vladimir and Katarzyna Gertner and Jonas and Maria Gertner; his nieces, Abby Gertner and Arielle Kelly; his cousin, Boris Galper; and Boris's daughter, Tania Galper. He will also be missed by Susan's dog, Isaac, who held a special place in his heart.

Relatives and friends are invited to graveside services on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Shalom Memorial Park, 3573 Pine Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. A luncheon will follow the service. Due to the short notice, those wishing to attend the luncheon are kindly asked to RSVP by Tuesday, October 13, at 11:30 a.m. by emailing sngertner@gmail.com with their name(s) and the number of people attending.