Dr. Gerard “Gerry” Church

Dr. Gerard “Gerry” Church, at the age of 93, was born on January 28, 1928 in Glasgow, Scotland passed away peacefully July 17, 2021 surrounded by his family at his home in Winchester on the Severn in Annapolis, Maryland on July 17, 2021. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Joan Church, his four children, Douglas, Jill, Andrew and Robert, as well as his twelve grand-children and six great-grandchildren. Gerry was born in Glasgow, Scotland on January 28, 1928, and was the ninth of eleven children.

He was educated at St. Aloysius College in Glasgow, and graduated from Glasgow University Medical School. After a two year career in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Gerry specialized in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. He received a Diploma of Membership in 1962 and Diploma of Fellowship in 1969 for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Gerry immigrated to the United States in 1956. After receiving medical training at the Mercy and Johns Hopkins Hospitals in Baltimore, he started his medical practice in Annapolis in 1960. Gerry became the Chief of Medicine at Anne Arundel Medical Center from 1965 to 1973. During this time he played a major role in the development of the Coronary Care Unit, one of the first in the country. He received a Proclamation from the Senate of the State of Maryland and was made a Fellow of the American College of Physicians for this amazing achievement. Gerry later assisted the development of Cardiology services at North Arundel Hospital, where he became the Director of the Coronary Care Unit. The Baltimore Washington Medical Center presented him with an award of appreciation for his outstanding service and dedication for the years of 1966 to 2011. Gerard was also very active with the American Heart Association and was President of the Central Maryland Chapter, for which he received an award for Outstanding Service in 1987.

Gerry was an accomplished soccer player, who played for his University Team, the Queen's Park Football Club, the British Army Team, and Scotland's Amateur International Team. While raising four children, he founded the first youth soccer program in Anne Arundel County in 1972. He started the soccer program with the Green Hornets of Severna Park. Then later started the soccer program at St. Mary’s in Annapolis, which became the Annapolis Soccer Program. He was President of the Anne Arundel County soccer league for nine years, and received an award from the County Executive for his incredible work. In his later years, he coached many of his grandchildren’s teams for the RYAL Soccer league.

Gerry was an avid golfer and was Club Champion at the Chartwell Golf & Country Club. He also became a distinguished member of the US Naval Academy Golf Club. Also known as a passionate musician, Gerry was the singer and banjo player of the "Bar and Tonics", a musical group of lawyers and doctors which played at many county festivals in Maryland. He was also a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club and a parishioner at St. Mary’s Church. Gerry was best known for his humility, integrity, honesty, work ethic, medical skills, sense of humor, and as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His children’s fond memories include hearing patients say “Your father saved my life. If it were not for your father, I would not still be alive”.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Mary’s Church (www.stmarysannapolis.org), or Hospice of the Chesapeake (www.hospicechesapeake.org). Friends are invited to a gathering with the Church family on Friday, July 30, from 5pm to 7pm at John M. Taylor Funeral Home (147 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis). The service will be held on Saturday, July 31 at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Church (109 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis).