Jerry Rogoff, worked at Morton’s

Originally from Rockaway Park in Queens, Jerry Rogoff made a name for himself in his native community with Rogoff’s Stationery/Toy Store and then used his retail experience to forge a bond with customers at Morton’s Army Navy Store in Cedarhurst.

Rogoff died on Nov. 15, a day after his 84th birthday.

Rogoff’s Stationery/Toy Store was “the most wonderful place to buy toys, greeting cards, bicycles, dolls and doll carriages as well as baby items,” said his wife Liela of 56 years, which was also how long they owned the store. “The art supplies and sporting goods sections were top notch. If you were a regular customer, Jerry knew what you wanted and had it for you or could get it for you.”

Two years after selling the Rockaway Park store in 1993, Rogoff answered a classified ad for Morton’s on Central Avenue. He spent the past 18 years beguiling customers with his charm, providing advice to all those he spoke with and that would be everybody, according to Morton’s owner Steve Silverman.

“Jerry was an incredible person,” Silverman said. “He was a people person who would bend over backwards for customers. All the employees adored him and the girls thought he was the cutest. They would take photos with him and post them on social media.”

The schmoozer was also a hard working guy — he had a side job making favors for family parties and bat and bar mitzvahs — who came to work dressed in a work shirt and work pants, Silverman, whose store sells more fashionable clothing, called it “blue collar couture.”

“Jerry was a true retailer, if there was a retail Hall of Fame he’d be inducted on the first vote,” Silverman said. “He was an incredible source of knowledge on wholesalers. If a retailer was looking for certain item he knew the best place and the best price.”

Though a hard worker, Rogoff, who lived in the Five Towns for 53 years, loved his family, Liela said, and appreciated the dinners and vacations he shared with his children. He spoke incessantly about his grandchildren. Everyone he talked to knew what they were doing, according to Liela.

In addition to his wife, Rogoff is survived by his children and their spouses, Jacki Rogoff Penzer and Richard, Scott and Bonnie Rogoff and Dr. David and Susan Rogoff. And his grandchildren, Mickey, Ariel and Jacob Penzer, Jon, Jenni and Melissa Rogoff and Hunter, Hailey and Paige Rogoff.

A funeral service was held at Riverside-Boulevard Chapel in Hewlett on Nov. 17. Rogoff was interred at New Montefiore Cemetery.

“Jerry was hard working, thoughtful, generous, and a caring man,” Liela said. “He was loved by all and will be truly missed.”