Jerry Irwin Christman
Obituary
Jerry Irwin Christman
(b.Aug. 13, 1952 | d. July 30, 2026)
The fabulous life of Jerry Irwin Christman began on August 13, 1952, in Lewisville, Ohio. Jerry grew up on a farm with his Mom, Kathryn; his Dad, Bus; and his big brother, Philip .He was also surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins who became life long friends.
He attended The OhioState University for a time before trading the Buckeyes for the Big Apple andmoving to New York City, which remained his home for the rest of his trulywonderful life.
Jerry spent most of his professional years as an office manager at Doctors Council, where he worked very hard to keep everyone in line. The friends and colleagues he met there remained close to him long after his retirement.
Jerry had three true passions in life.
The first was music, which inspired his move to New York. His voice was magical, transformative, and reassuring. He sang for decades with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall and traveling across the United States and around the globe with a group that became his largest circle of friends.
For many years, he attended the Camp Winnipesaukee annual retreat, singing songs and making memories with fellow music lovers. He also shared his talents as a solo performer, singing at weddings and church services.
His passion for music grew into a semi-obsession with Broadway. Jerry attended every Broadway show he could and loved discussing the latest premiere or revival of one of his favorites. Broadway show tunes regularly blared from his stereo, and the most meaningful ones etched lines on his heart.
His second passion was his wide and wonderful circle of friends. You couldn’t go out to dinner with Jerry in New York City without running into someone who knew him. His vivacious personality made him unforgettable. His antics and quick wit made him relatable. His soft heart made him approachable.
He had so many different circles of friends that even those closest to him didn’t know the mall. But every one of them can tell a story about how Jerry changed their life.
His third passion was his family, beginning with the Christman family in Ohio. Jerry may have left Ohio, but he never left it behind. He treasured his roots and carefully nurtured those relationships throughout his life.
Then there was his nephew, Erik; Erik’s wife, Holli; and their children, Jerry’s godchildren, Jackson and Kait. Their bond was far closer than the titles of uncle, nephew, niece, or godparent could ever express.
There wasn’t a Christmas when Great-Uncle Jerry didn’t give the most fabulous present in the room, and hardly a year went by without a trip to visit him and see a Broadway show in the best city in the world.
Most importantly, there was the love of his life, Nick Gjovik, his best friend for more than 40years and his husband for more than two. Jerry and Nick’s 2024 wedding was a beautiful declaration of love, devotion, and care.
When Jerry left this world, he did so with Nick by his side and happier than he had ever been.
Heaven’s fabulousness meter spiked early in the morning on July 30, 2026, when Jerry joined the most wonderful choir of all. Our enormous loss is Heaven's gain.
A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, (308 West 46th Street; New York, NY 10036). Invitations to follow in the mail. A graveside service and burial will take place at Jerry’s family's cemetery plot in Monroe County, Ohio, over the Memorial Day weekend in 2027.
Gifts in Jerry’s honor and memory may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (https://stlukesnyc.org/giving)or the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus (https://www.nycgmc.org/support).