Gerald L. Boyer

Gerald L. Boyer

January 6, 1948 -  September 7, 2023

Beloved husband, father, and grandfather.  Gerald passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Thursday, September 7 at the age of 75 and after humbly and bravely bearing the sufferings of cancer.

Gerald was born in 1948 in Pottsville, PA, to parents June and Lewis Boyer.  He graduated from Schuylkill Haven High School in 1965 and went on to attend Penn State University earning a B.S. in Mathematics.  It was at Penn State he met Carol Messick, a student studying Elementary Education. They fell in love and married in 1969.  They then moved to New Haven, CT, where Gerry was on full scholarship at Yale University Graduate School earning a M.S. in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.  Upon graduation from Yale, Gerry and his wife Carol moved to Maryland where Gerry began his 35 plus year career working at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory as a Mathematician/Physicist/ Engineer. He found pleasure in his scientific work and in a job well done. While working at the JHU APL Gerry and Carol started a family and Gerry went on to further his graduate studies at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University.    

Reared in a loving Christian home, Gerry began reading passages of Sacred Scripture every day from childhood to his last days.  In fact, he read the Bible in sequential order many times over during the course of his life.  He also wore the Brown Scapular continuously for nearly 50 years in consecration and dedication to Our Lady.   His Catholic faith was unwavering, and it was shown in the quiet, good-natured life he led as a kind and devout man, simple of heart and desires, strong in principles, quick witted, and full of good humor.  He was active in his faith community and most importantly in family life setting a good example as a loving husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather, and it was in family life that he found his greatest happiness. 

He was the beloved husband of 53 years to Carol V. Boyer, father of Carolyn C. Colón (and son-in-law Henry) and Gail V. Samuels (and son-in-law Troy) and grandfather to Fulton, Rose, John-Paul, Clare, Leo, and Noelle Colón and Lila, Caden, and Mallory Samuels. He also leaves behind a brother Robert Boyer and his wife Mary and their daughters Rebecca and Abigail. He will be sadly missed, yet remembered with great joy and thanksgiving to Almighty God.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 12 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, Fulton, MD, immediately followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Francis Church starting at 11:00 a.m. At the request of the family, internment will be private.

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