Age 34. 29 Gardner Street, Chelsea, MA. Born on 7/15/1908, in Chelsea. Died of burns (death certificate). Owner of Gerson Sales Co. (tobacco vending), 70a Green Street, Boston. Attended the club with his service route man, Robert "Bob" Freede, age 51, of Revere, MA, dead. Wife Marcia, age 32 (Born 4/28/1910. Died 7/04/1990, age 80. Last residence Miami, FL. Same name at death), was misreported as also present in early news accounts. His body was reported as found in the cellar Melody Lounge ruins. An older brother Barnett (not present) met by chance fire survivor Irving Soroko, age 33 (Born 5/30/1909. Died 2/27/1988, age 78. Last residence Malden, MA), a Chelsea friend from school days, at Southern Mortuary in Boston on Sunday afternoon. Latter claimed he saw Mr. Gerson leaving the club at least a half hour before the fire. According to Grove author Paul Benzaquin (in his 1959 book Holocaust!), the brother replied that his sibling had subsequently met friends at the door and returned inside (the latter were not identified). Wife located his brother Barnett's car on Sunday parked off Broadway then collapsed (photo caption, The Boston Globe, 11/30/1942: "'That's Barney's car!' hysterically shrieked an unidentified woman as she came upon parked, vacant car..."). A dentist assisted in identification of the remains. His wife and the above brother went to Boston Police Headquarters on December 3 for his, "...blue coat with a Filene label" (The Boston Evening Globe, 12/03/1942), garment was not located. Was the ninth oldest of eleven siblings. Survived by daughters Lila, age 12, and Blume, age 9. Was a lifelong Chelsea resident. One of seven Grove victims from the nearby city of Chelsea. Late parents Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin and Blume (Denenberg) Gerson. Burial at Fuller Street (Liberty Progressive) Cemetery, Everett, MA.

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