Early Life
Alan Gerry was born in Liberty, New York, to Jewish immigrants from Russia. Growing up during the Great Depression, Gerry's family faced financial hardships, which instilled in him a strong work ethic. He dropped out of high school before graduating to join the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was trained in electronics.
Rise to Success
After serving in the Marines, Gerry used the G.I. Bill to study television repair. In 1951, he started a television sales, installation, and repair business in his hometown. Recognizing the need for better television reception in the mountainous Catskills region, he began creating small cable systems. This initiative led to the founding of Liberty Video in 1956, which later evolved into Cablevision Industries. Gerry's vision and business acumen propelled Cablevision Industries to become the eighth-largest cable operator in the United States.
Key Business Strategies
Gerry's success was built on several key strategies. He focused on providing reliable service, expanding his operations strategically, and adopting new technologies early on. Gerry expanded the company, expanding into Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and was one of the first to deploy fiber optic cable. His ability to recognize and capitalize on market opportunities was crucial to his success. In 1996, he sold Cablevision Industries to Time Warner Cable for $2.7 billion.
Philanthropy
Following the sale of Cablevision Industries, Gerry dedicated himself to philanthropy. Through the Gerry Foundation, he has supported numerous causes, including economic revitalization in Sullivan County, NY, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (built on the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival), the Paul Gerry Dialysis Center, and research at Boston University to find a cure for amyloidosis.
