Obituary

Gad Janay was born in Haifa, Israel on June 7th, 1940 during the British mandate. 

He grew up in a hotel run by his beloved parents, Mordechai and Yaffa Rivka, alongside his siblings Rachel, Ronit, and Eli. Gad’s childhood was full of rich experiences, like the first time he tasted strawberry ice cream—brought by a US Navy ship’s crew staying at their family’s hotel for Thanksgiving. Even at a young age, Gad was learning to savor life’s unexpected moments.

Gad proudly served in the Israeli Defense Forces before coming to America by boat in 1962 for a work/study program through Cornell with the Grossinger’s resort in the Catskills. Gad pursued education at Fairleigh Dickinson University. When he first arrived, he was struck by the sight of autumn leaves and green grass. To him, these were symbols of possibility.

In America, Gad found more than just opportunity—he found love. On a blind date, Gad met Marlene, the love of his life. They married on March 3, 1968, and built a beautiful life together, spanning 57 loving years. They raised four children; Michael who married Amy, David who married Laura, Rona (also known as Roniki) who married Craig,  and Barry who married Lauren.  Gad and Marlene were blessed with eleven grandchildren; Brian, Devyn, Meredith, Avery, Justin, Max, Peyton, Sophie, Zach, Summer, and Lilly who brought endless pride and joy into Gad’s world.

Around 1970, Gad became a U.S. citizen. He was deeply proud to be an American, cherishing the freedoms this country offers—especially the right to vote. Gad saw America not only as a place of new flavors and green landscapes but as a land where hope could grow into a dream realized.

Gad and Marlene founded Magda Corporation, which was a combination of their names, a successful software company serving banks which later became Complex Systems and Banktrade. Gad traveled the world throughout his career to build his business into a worldwide enterprise. In the early years, he and Marlene lived in many places—New Jersey, Chicago, Texas, and back to New Jersey—before settling in Highland Beach, Florida, where they found a loving community of friends who Marlene calls “their family.”

Gad lived the American dream. From arriving with hope and little else to creating a life rich with love, success, and freedom, his journey was nothing short of extraordinary. He had a deep appreciation for history, and a unique ability to find meaning in both the monumental and the mundane. He loved listening to his grandchildren share what they were learning, he was always curious and full of wonder.

Gad was a man of great warmth, humility, and wisdom. He built a life not just for himself, but for generations to come. His story is one of courage, dedication, resilience, and love. He leaves behind a legacy that reminds us to always dream big. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Memorial Contributions

The family asks that memorial contributions be made in Gad’s name to:

STAND WITH US – StandWithUs is an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. 

Donations made to StandWithUs are tax deducible and can be made through the Company’s website at www.standwithus.com/donate

Obit Obit

See Full Bio