Gerard M. Lehrer, known as "Jerry" to his friends and colleagues, passed away on Friday, April 12, 2013, after a sudden illness. Born May 29, 1927, in Vienna, Austria, son of Charlotte and David Lehrer, he immigrated to New York City with his mother, when he was 11 years old.

Jerry Lehrer was a compassionate physician dedicated to multiple sclerosis (MS) patients from the time he began practice, in 1960, at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, until his death. He pioneered research in multiple sclerosis, demyelinating disease, and experimental autoimmune encephalitis. He was a sought-after expert in significant legal cases involving multiple sclerosis patients. A Professor of Neurology and Attending Neurologist, he was also Co Director of the Headache Clinic.

He was a senior Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Neurological Association, a Fellow of New York Academy of Science, and a founding member of the International Society of Neurochemistry. Dr. Lehrer authored more than 150 original articles and book chapters on clinical neurology and demyelinating disease.

Dr. Lehrer was Senior Staff Neurologist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York. Still not fully retired after relocation to Carmel, California, in 1994, the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center requested his services and Dr. Lehrer served as neurologist at the Livermore, San Jose, and Monterey clinics, prior to his dedication to treatment of disabled MS patients on the Monterey Peninsula. He was a co-founder of the MS Quality of Life Project and is Director Emeritus.

Outside of his professional career, Jerry was an extremely caring individual, loved by all who met him. A past member of the Advisory Board, National MS Society, New York City, and Board of Directors of the Hunger Project, Dr. Lehrer was a strong supporter of community service.

Jerry's many interests included sailing, poetry, writings of Goethe, the Bible, philosophy, comparative religion, computer science and electronic gadgets. Jerry was a bargain shopper extraordinaire. His famous advice to friends and family: "Anything's negotiable!"

He is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne Macahilig Lehrer, his children, Richard and Alicia Lehrer, and five grandchildren, Max, Harry, Francesca Binder and Nathaniel and Jonathan Lehrer.