Jerry Axelrod

A good friend to so many, and a tremendous loss to his family, Jerry Axelrod passed away August 19, just prior to his 96th birthday. He was loved for his sincerity, dry humor, generosity and kindness.

Born September 5, 1927, in Canton, Ohio, his parents and brother moved to Parkersburg, West Virginia, shortly thereafter. Except for his service in the Army and his years at Berkeley, Jerry, his father and brother, Warren, were inseparable. Together, they started a wide range of businesses, including auto supply and wrecking, furniture and appliance stores.

The family moved to San Diego in 1958 where Jerry and Warren worked for Sol Price, opening FedMart stores in California and Texas. Sol asked them to buy 30 cars for the business, but instead of buying, they discovered the lucrative future of car leasing.

The brothers moved to Hollywood in 1960 and, with the help of devoted friends, started Southwest Leasing, pioneers in auto and equipment leasing. The innovative concept and company grew rapidly for years, with dealers scattered throughout the southwest. They eventually took the company public.

Headquartered in Beverly Hills, they paid the highest city taxes in that city for numerous years. The brothers eventually moved the business to Olympic and Bundy in West Los Angeles, occupying an entire city block and processing thousands of cars. Nearby studios became their best customers, and Jerry befriended scores of studio moguls and celebrities.

Jerry raised his two children in Beverly Hills and lived there until 1994. Three years later, he and Christine, his wife of 26 years, and stepson, Robert, moved to the Palisades. He established innumerable long-time friendships in both the Beverly Hills and Palisades communities. Jerry and Christine moved to Rocklin, California, in 2016.

Jerry was passionate about meeting new people. An intent listener, he was sincerely interested in hearing “their story.” He thrived on involvement in several social groups and clubs, including the classic Friars Club, and contributed time and resources to an abundance of charities, serving on the boards of the Maple Center and City of Hope.

An exercise enthusiast and very strong, Jerry’s passions included boxing, running, swimming, scuba diving, tennis, weightlifting, yoga, tai chi, Gyrotonics and Pilates. Always with family, Jerry was a world traveler, exploring every continent, with the exception of Antarctica

Jerry and Christine attended Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, where they cherished close and lasting friendships. Jerry’s Jewish roots were enriched through the sermons of Rev. John Todd, and he and others were fondly named, “Jewbyterians.”

Jerry loved his family and leaves them with a legacy of love, humility, selflessness, tolerance and kindness. He is sadly missed by his wife, Christine; daughter, Jennifer Axelrod Clay (Ty); son, Danny Axelrod (Shannon); stepson, Robert Varie; three grandchildren: Cory (Kari), Molly, and William; and one great-grandchild, Samuel.