Submitted by the family
REDDING, CONN. — Jesse Goldberg of Artemis Gallery passed away February 4, at the Meadow Ridge Nursing Home in Redding. He fought Parkinson’s Disease for the past nine years and complications finally won the battle.
Jesse was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on November 4, 1944. He graduated from New Utrecht High School and attended Brooklyn College, graduating in 1965 with a bachelor of science degree. He then attended the University of Illinois until he transferred to Boston University graduating in 1971 with a master’s degree in chemistry. With his strong academic background, he chose teaching as a career and taught for 20 years, most of them at Clarkstown High School South in Nyack, N.Y. His interest in antiques began with his first wife Susan. At first, he did not understand why she collected old, used furniture but then learned to love all the early American antiques they were living with.
That marriage ended in a friendly divorce but not the love of antiques. While teaching, he attended antiques shows and auctions and started his own business he named “The Auk.” He housed his inventory in his garage and did local shows selling folk art, decoys, baskets and general Americana. After a robbery of his early inventory, it opened the door to persevere and pursue his attraction to the history and beauty of American Federal furniture.
He met his wife Carol, who lived not far down the road in North Salem, N.Y. Carol was a professional horse trainer with a business at her place called Artemis Farm. She was also a dealer in American paintings. Jesse called her to come and see a horse painting he had. Carol brushed the hay and shavings off her sweater and went over to see it, also confessing it was more to get a look at the new local bachelor she had heard about. It was an instant match and they were together ever since, getting married in 1985. Jesse named his new business Artemis Gallery. He proudly served on the board of the Antiques Dealers’ Association of America. Jesse exhibited in many shows in New Hampshire, New York City, Connecticut, Delaware and Washington, DC. Jesse was devoted to the small town where he lived in North Salem. He served on the board of The Concerned Residents of North Salem and never missed a town meeting when poorly conceived developments threatened the countryside. He shared a love of classical music with Carol, setting their personal record of attending 50 concerts in one year. He will be sorely missed by Carol and his many friends, antiques dealers and clients who appreciated his boundless interest in the history of American furniture and his quick wit.
Contributions may be made in his memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org.
A “Life Celebration” is planned for June.
