Jerry Segal

Gerald S. "Jerry" Segal, Esq. (May 21 1941 Philadelphia - 28 June 2020 Blue Bell[1]) was an attorney from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[2] who was paralyzed as a result of neck surgery in 1988. He is also on the board of trustees for Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

For the musician, see Jerry Segal (musician).
Jerry Segal
Born(1941-05-21)May 21, 1941
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died28 June 2020
EducationDrexel University and Temple University Law School
OccupationAttorney
EmployerSegal, Berk, Gaines, and Liss Attorneys at Law
Spouse(s)Carolyn Segal
Websitewww.sbgllaw.com

Personal life

Segal was married to Carolyn Segal.

Professional life

Segal was a founding partner of the law firm of Segal, Berk, Gaines & Liss. He formed the firm in 1966 and is the Senior Partner and Managing Partner. The firm's specialty is civil litigation. It also deals with transactional and contractual work, putting deals together, and handling and drafting of contracts as well as continuing representation once underway. Segal is actively involved in many commercial ventures in the Philadelphia region.

Segal received his B.A. from Drexel University and J.D. from Temple University Law School, and is a member of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.

Jerry Segal sat on many corporate boards, including the following:

Segal was a past member of the President's National Council on Disabilities appointed by President Bill Clinton, and past President of Fight for Sight of Greater Philadelphia.[3]

Medical history

As a result of chronic back pain, in 1988 Segal went to San Francisco for surgery performed by the nation's preeminent neurosurgeon. An accident occurred and caused Segal to be paralyzed from the neck down. Segal and his wife chose to return to Philadelphia for therapy. His first stop was Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where Segal went to stabilize his condition and install a therapeutic "halo" device on his head to immobilize it. The device enabled Segal to undergo therapy while bones healed. Segal then transferred to Magee Rehabilitation Hospital also in Philadelphia for rehab.[4][5]

While at Magee, Segal set a goal to play golf again despite his condition. After leaving Magee, he planned to establish a benefit golf tournament to benefit the patients of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and resumed his legal career. In March 2010, Segal was diagnosed and treated for encephalitis which had affected his brain and his spinal cord. He was again admitted as a patient of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

Jerry Segal Golf Classic

The first Jerry Segal Classic was scheduled to take place in October 1990 at the White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Segal was able to tee off unassisted. That first event raised $56,000 to donate to Magee. The Jerry Segal Classic is now Magee Rehabilitation Hospital's largest fundraising event. To date, the Classic has raised more than $15 million over 27 years for the patients of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.[6]

The 28th Annual Jerry Segal Golf Classic will be held on September 15, 2017.[7]

Now, the Segal Classic features Governor Edward Rendell,[8] as honorary chair. Others in attendance include Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, NBA Hall-of-Famer Billy Cunningham, former NHL standouts Bernie Parent and Dave Schultz, former Eagle Mike Mamula, and local TV and radio personalities Scott Palmer and Howard Eskin.[9]

Segal Classic fundings

One of the accomplishments of the Segal Classic is the Jerry & Carolyn Segal Center for Community Skills. This rooftop streetscape at Magee helps patients prepare to overcome real-life obstacles such as potholes, manhole covers, cobblestone, curbs of varying heights, going to a mailbox and getting in and out of a car.

Other things the Classic has funded include:

  • New vans to transport patients;
  • New equipment such as a new treadmill for locomotor training, wheelchairs, cushions;
  • Reotherapy which is a state of the art, robotic technology that is used for improving upper extremity function in patients that have experienced ceverbrovascular accidents and other neurological conditions
  • The Segal Family and Friends Meal Program which has provided nearly 50,000 meals for family members so patients can eat with their loved ones;
  • Subsidize guest housing at the Windsor Hotel so family members can stay near their loved ones during rehabilitation; and
  • Subsidize peer-mentor programs.[10]

References
  1. Andy Gotlieb (2020-07-09). "Magee Rehab Benefactor Jerry Segal Dies at 79". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  2. "Welcome". Segal, Berk, Gaines, and Liss Attorneys at Law. Archived from the original on 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  3. "About Gerald S. Segal, Esq". Segal, Berk, Gaines, & Liss Attorneys at Law. Archived from the original on 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  4. "Celebrating 50 Years of Caring" (PDF). Magee Rehabilitation Hospital News & Publications. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  5. Mezzapelle, David (2015-03-17). 10 Habits of Truly Optimistic People: Power Your Life with the Positive. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-63228-011-4.
  6. "Jerry Segal Golf Classic". Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  7. Jerry Segal Classic http://www.segalclassic.com. Retrieved 2010-08-16. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell Helps Out Jerry Segal Classic". World Golf. 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  9. "21st Annual Jerry Segal Classic for Magee Rehabilitation Hospital September 24, 2010". Magee Rehabilitation Hospital News & Publications. 2010-07-15. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  10. "Segal Classic Video". Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. Archived from the original on 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
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