Jerry Springer may have become a household name for his success. The Jerry Springer Showbut after his death at the age of 79, he is remembered as a family man.
Gary Rosen, a former broadcaster of Springer’s long-running syndicated talk show and who worked with the TV host for several years after the daytime series moved from Chicago to Connecticut, told PEOPLE – the late television host who has a daughter with her ex-wife Katie Springer. tells. his wife Micki Velton – would like to be known as “a good father and grandfather”.
“He said the rest—the famous part—is just ego,” Rosen says. “I will remember him [as] A classy move that’s a real mensch for his crew, his crew and fans around the world.”
Rosen recalled that Springer was “very self-deprecating and private” despite the success of her show.
“When we went out and printed, if we were in another city or had extra time, we would have gone to Barnes & Noble and Jerry would have bought a pile of books,” he says. “He would often buy these books, and when he went out for lunch or dinner, he would sometimes eat alone and just read.”
“He didn’t take himself too seriously. People would go out into the street and say, ‘Jerry, I love your show,’ and he would say, ‘I’m sorry’.” “It was Jerry. He was like your uncle. He was like everybody else. He just put on a crazy show.”
The Jerry Springer Show According to Rosen — who worked in syndication from 1991 to 2018 — he was “the launch pad for everything else” for Springer.
“The Jerry Springer Show It gave him the opportunity and the opportunity to do so many things he couldn’t do as a result of this notoriety,” he explains, noting that Springer particularly enjoyed acting on Broadway as Billy. Chicago and tenure America has talent.
Springer produced and starred in it. Judge Jerryhosting another Connecticut talk show that lasted three seasons Price Right Live! type.
RELATED VIDEO: Jerry Springer Shares What He’ll Miss Most The Jerry Springer Show
Rabbi Sandford Kopnick, of The Valley Temple in Cincinnati, of which Springer was a part of the congregation, also remembered the late television personality as “a kind and generous person” who was also “the most devoted husband, father and grandfather”.
“There was so much more to him than The Jerry Springer Show. He was very, very smart,” she says. “He was an exceptional family man, and someone who understood what it was like to pay down debt. He always knew his luck. He never took it lightly.”
He added: “While I could certainly move to another congregation after coming to this congregation, he not only stayed but did his best to improve the congregation.”
“He found his services meaningful. He has always truly embraced his Jewish identity. He did everything in his power to spread accurate knowledge of the Holocaust and was as good as it could be.”
Recalling that Springer also greets his fans at the temple, Kopnick said, “I’ve always loved meeting someone who always knew who he was. He would always reach out and say, ‘Jerry Springer.’ It was as if they didn’t know, but it always neutralized the person who encountered him.”
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PEOPLE confirmed that Springer died Thursday in a Chicago suburb after a “short illness”.
“Jerry’s ability to connect with people has been central to his success in everything he’s tried, whether it’s politics, broadcast, or pranking people on the street asking for photos or words,” said family friend and spokesperson Jene Galvin. Description for PEOPLE. “His is irreplaceable and his loss is so painful, but memories of his wit, heart and humor will live on.”
The statement continued: “Funerals and a memorial service are currently in development. To remember Jerry, the family asks you to consider following his spirit instead of flowers, and commit to donating or doing a favor to someone in need. A valuable advocacy organization. like, ‘Take care of yourself and each other’.”