Jerry Swormstedt, the former third-generation chair of the board and president of ST Media Group Intl., the parent company of VMSD magazine, died April 4, the day before Easter, after having suffered a massive heart attack on April 3. Jerry was 80.
A 1956 graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism, Jerry first worked in the circulation department of the, then, ST Publications. He served two years in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer. Jerry then joined ST Publications in 1959 as an Assistant Editor for Signs of the Times magazine. In 1970, he became editorial director of Signs of the Times, Screen Printing and Display World magazine (currently VMSD magazine). In 1979, he became the publisher of Signs of the Times.
In 1992, following the retirement of his older brother, the late Dave Reid Swormstedt Jr., Jerry became the president of ST Publications. When Jerry's son Tedd Swormstedt was named president in 1999 (he continues in that role today), Jerry became chair of the board, a role in which he served until he retired in 2005.
Details about arrangements have not yet been finalized. Jerry will be greatly missed by his friends, family and the entire ST Media Group staff.