In Memoriam
Gerry Ellsworth Hendershot
October 1, 1937 – October 4, 2025

Loving Son, Sibling, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Cousin, Uncle, and Friend

Gerry Hendershot was born on October 1, 1937, in Highland Park, MI, to George and Edith
(Golden) Hendershot. The youngest of three siblings—after his brother Kenneth and sister
Norma (Doane Furman)—Gerry grew up with a keen mind and a quiet determination that would
shape a life of service, scholarship, and reflection.

He earned degrees in sociology from the University of Michigan (BA) and the University of
Chicago (MA, PhD), where he also met Doris Penn. They married in Norwich, OH on December
13, 1964, and shared 48 years together until Doris’s passing in 2013. Gerry served in the United
States Navy as an Ensign and will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery alongside Doris.
Their daughter, Tabitha, was born in 1968.

Gerry’s early career as a sociology professor took him across the globe. He taught at the
College of Wooster, the University of the Philippines, Vanderbilt University, and Brown
University. Later, he brought his expertise to the US Federal Government, where he worked as
a statistician with a focus on health and disability research. His contributions to the International
Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the National Health Interview Survey,
the National Survey of Family Growth, and the Office of Population Affairs reflected not only
technical rigor but a deep human empathy.

Gerry’s work was never abstract. He paid close attention to how people navigated the
world—especially those living with disabilities. He noticed where public transportation faltered,
where sidewalks failed, and where systems could do better. These insights weren’t just
academic; they became personal as Gerry aged and experienced firsthand the challenges of
mobility and daily living. He met those changes with curiosity, grace, and a continued
commitment to understanding others.
After retiring, Gerry poured his energy into his church, community life, and spiritual exploration.
He organized groups around spiritual poetry, prison writing, Bible studies, and theater outings
for young people. He taught adult education courses on art and poetry, and became an
accomplished poet himself. His writing was generous, reflective, and often dedicated to those
he loved.
Gerry lived in University Park, MD for 45 years, before downsizing in 2021 to Riverdale Park. In
2024, he moved to Arlington, VA, to be closer to Tabitha, her husband John Foti, and their sons
Thomas and Michael. He lived independently until his 88th birthday and died peacefully,
surrounded by family, on October 4, 2025.

Gerry touched many lives with his intellect, empathy, and forthrightness. He believed in the
dignity of every person and the power of community. His legacy lives on in the institutions he
shaped and the people he inspired. Gerry wrote a poem after Doris’s death that reflected on
their first date. The last verses of that poem capture his spirit and zest for life, which will endure
in the hearts and minds of those who were blessed to know him:
“Our time will come, our road will open free
and give our lives that fine majestic slant.
Our party will go on, that you will see.”

In Lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Gerry E. Hendershot’s name to The
Church of the Pilgrims (Washington, DC), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (College Park, MD),
First Presbyterian Church (Arlington, VA) or to Poetry Out Loud which is organized and run
through The National Endowment for the Arts.
https://www.churchofthepilgrims.org/giving

Give

https://www.fpcarlington.org/give

Poetry Out Loud

Services will be held at the Church of the Pilgrams on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 11:00
AM, with a reception to follow.
Church of the Pilgrims
2201 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
202-387-6612 |  pilgrims@churchofthepilgrims.org
Live Stream Available at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6Kpg25NM2UJC9_ZMaXvzA

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