Gerald "Jerry" U. Liddel

Gerald U. Liddel of Silver Spring, MD passed away peacefully on January 14th, 2023.

Born in Greenwich, CT on November 16, 1937, Jerry graduated from Greenwich High School in 1955.  Upon graduation, he attended the University of Maryland where he earned a degree in Microbiology.  Jerry went on to earn a Ph.D in Microbiology from The Pennsylvania State University.  During his professional career he worked for Merck Pharmaceuticals, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.  His final position was working in research grant review for microbial genetics at NIH.

Jerry’s interests included historical airplanes, traveling and being a lifelong learner.  He was proud to have earned a private pilot’s license.  Jerry was highly involved in his church, Bethesda United Church of Christ, where he served as an unofficial historian and on worship and endowment committees.  Jerry actively volunteered for many organizations including RFB&D where he recorded scientific textbooks for visually impaired students, the Washington Ear for whom he recorded the daily newspaper and Habitat for Humanity, where he helped build houses in Oakland, Maryland.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Urner Liddel and Letitia Liddel, and brother Robert Liddel.  He is survived by his beloved wife Dorothy Betz Liddel and three children Beverly (Kevin), David and Michael (Emily).  Additionally, Jerry will be greatly missed by grandchildren Kara, William, Daniel and Eleanor, his half-brothers Bruce and Alan Liddel, as well as his nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 4th at 11:00 at Bethesda United Church of Christ, located at 10010 Fernwood Road, Bethesda, MD 20817.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Montgomery Hospice (montgomeryhospice.org ), which took excellent care of Jerry, or Habitat for Humanity (habitatmm.org ), with whom he spent many years volunteering.