Jerome D. Kolker | Peco engineer, 61

Jerome Daniel Kolker, 61, a Peco Energy engineer who retired at 50 to play - build models of World War II ships, attend rock concerts, study Russian and German, play chess, and plant trees - died Tuesday of heart and lung disease in his East Falls home.

The 1963 Central High School graduate was passionate about chess - studying Russian and German so he could read chess books and translate games. He quit playing in tournaments in the late 1960s with a U.S. Chess Federation rating of 2,200, which is master class, said cousin Jaynee Levy-Polis.

"He stopped competing against other players because he didn't think he was good enough," Levy-Polis said.

After earning a bachelor's in electrical engineering in 1968 from Drexel University, Mr. Kolker moved to Center City, a few blocks from Philadelphia Electric Co. headquarters, where he designed transmission systems until 1995. He stashed away every dime he could and took early retirement.

He dressed like a hippie, and had done so since the 1960s.

"Jerry wore clothes forever," Levy-Polis said. "We are burying him in socks and a shirt with holes worn through."

He went to hundreds of rock concerts and saved every ticket stub.

Mr. Kolker moved to East Falls and filled his house with hundreds of meticulously detailed model WWII ships. He had a setup of a fleet of American ships facing a Japanese fleet. He also devoured difficult crossword and sudoku puzzles. Mr. Kolker was a fan of international soccer and other sports. He kept detailed statistics on favorite players.

Besides Levy-Polis, Mr. Kolker is survived by several other cousins and their children.

A funeral will held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks, 6410 N. Broad St. Burial will follow at Shalom Memorial Park, Byberry and Pine Roads, Huntingdon Valley. Shiva will be observed through Thursday.