Jerry M. Torrence (IABE '57)
February 10, 1935 – June 19, 2015

Jerry M. Torrence (IABE ’57), an extremely successful home furnishings executive whose post-retirement life focused on philanthropic activities, entered the Chapter Eternal on June 19, 2015.  He died after a battling cancer for the last several months at the age of 80 in New York, NY.
 
Torrence hailed from Des Moines, IA and attended North High School.  He entered the University of Iowa in 1953 and pledged the Iowa Beta chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon that spring.  He was initiated into the fraternity on December 5, 1954 and received SAE badge number 90469.  Torrence was very active in the Chapter and would remain good friends with his fraternity brothers throughout his entire life.

Torrence was a member of the University of Iowa  track team but also served on the Union Board, organizing student activities at the IMU, and the Collegiate Chamber of Commerce, bringing businesses to campus for job fairs.  He earned a BA in Business in 1957.

“Jerry was my fraternity brother and friend for over 61 years,” said Tom Mau (IABE ’57). “He was one of those guys that everybody liked.  He had a great sense of humor and could really hold the room with his stories, jokes and banter.  He suffered a great deal in the last few months but I am saddened at his passing.”

After graduating from Iowa, Torrence served his country in the US Army National Guard.  He began his career in the retail sector at Marshall Field & Co. department stores in Chicago, IL, where he became the buyer of home and bath goods from selected vendors. 

On June 1, 1960, he joined Regal Rugs, Inc. as a sales representative and moved to New York City.  He learned the ins and outs of the business and quickly moved through the ranks, rising to head sales for East Coast region.  Torrence opened several new lines of products for the company and greatly expanded their business.  He sold products to several large department store chains, counting Macy's and Bloomingdale's among his many clients.  In 1999, Regal Rugs was sold to Spring Industries, and Torrence stayed on until his retirement on June 27, 2003.

Torrence fell in love with Judy Douglass, whom he met at Regal Rugs, and the two were subsequently married.  The couple lived between their homes in Manhattan and Westport, CT until Judy preceded him in death on March 25, 2002.
 
Torrence was always a loyal Hawkeye and became part of a group of Iowa Beta SAEs known as "The Seven Brothers from Seven States" that would attend Iowa football games. 

These brothers include Mau, Jim Witt (IABE '57), Bill Tidd (IABE '57), Toni Hatch (IABE '57), Tom Houlihan (IABE '57) and the late Bill Krause (IABE '57). 

The group was formed at the wake of their late brother John E. "Jack" Salkeld, Sr. (IABE '56) as the friends realized that too many years go by before brothers see each other and decided to get together more often.

In retirement, Torrence enjoyed life and turned to philanthropic activities, providing generous contributions to many worthy causes.  He was a strong supporter of the Iowa Beta chapter over the years and a proud member of the Iowa Beta Alumni Association.  He took a special interest in the chapter house, wanting to preserve it for future generations.
 
"Brother Jerry Torrence was a kind and generous man who was the model of True Gentleman," said Marc Rosenow
(IABE '86), president of the Iowa Beta Alumni Association. "His fraternity brothers remember his warm smile and great sense of humor and how he loved to tell stories or enjoy a hearty laugh. On behalf of all Iowa Beta alumni, we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.  He will be greatly missed.” 

Torrence's ashes will be laid to rest alongside his beloved Judy and other family members in the cemetery at St. Charles, IA.