Gerard Anthony Valerio

Gerard Anthony Valerio (Gerry) of Annapolis passed away suddenly on Saturday evening, March 12th, upon arriving home from a joyful belated holiday and multi-birthday gathering with all of his immediate family at his daughter’s Annapolis home.

Gerry was born in 1940 and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He had an appreciation for the arts from an early age, playing the saxophone in school and demonstrating talent in visual arts. As his talent developed in high school, his father was compelled to remove him from the Catholic High School and send him to Cass Technical High School in Detroit to major in Fine Arts. The oldest of four second generation Italian American children, college was not an available pathway for Valerio at the time and following high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served as Staff Artist for USMC’s Leatherneck Magazine from 1961-62.

Following his military service, in 1962 Valerio was given the opportunity to work as a Senior Book Designer for Naval Institute Press in Annapolis under David Q. Scott, Art Director. Scott would become a pivotal mentor for Valerio.

Soon after arrival in Annapolis, Gerry met wife Sharie Lacey Valerio at Colonial Players of Annapolis. He would go on to donate countless hours of pro bono design to CP for more than 55 years including programs, set design and design of their 50th anniversary book.

Valerio left the Naval Institute briefly to work with Johns Hopkins University Press, ultimately returning to the Naval Institute. When he next left, it was to establish EditaGraphics on Main Street with Johns Hopkins University colleague Bob Armbruster. Following EditaGraphics, Valerio established Bookmark Studio with offices in Annapolis and Washington DC, designing formidable books and publications for clients including Johns Hopkins University Press, Wilderness Magazine, The Smithsonian Institute, Marion Warren and Kevin Fleming.

Valerio designed many of the most iconic Annapolis historical publications including many books by distinguished photographer Marion Warren, including "Bringing Back the Bay," and "The Train's Done Been and Gone"; Books by Ginger Doyel,"Gone to Market" and "Over the Bridge"; and Kevin Fleming’s “Annapolis”. Countless professional offices and homes in the area feature Marion Warren books and prints, “designed by Gerard A. Valerio”.

In 1985, Valerio was recruited to the National Geographic Society and played a pivotal role designing their 100th Anniversary Index along with many award-winning issues of the famous publication.

In 1991 when his craft was transitioning to digital, Gerry lost his son in a car accident and the personal grief and professional upheaval prompted a shift in priorities from book design to focus more directly on his first love of fine art. Shows featuring Valerio's fine art have been produced in Annapolis, Baltimore, Easton and New York City. Gerry was a long-term participant of the Maryland Hall Portrait and Life Co-ops and the Maryland Portrait Society.

Countless pro-bono contributions to local nonprofits include the "Annapolis I Remember" theater project and the associated book "Then Again" by Mame Warren, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, "Painted Violins" project, 2002, 2019, Historic Annapolis Foundation, Colonial Players of Annapolis, Charles Carroll House of Annapolis and the SPCA (logo design).

Valerio also produced a love of arts in his family - supporting wife Sharie's MFA in Acting from Catholic University, son Tony's Masters from Peabody Conservatory of Music and daughter Kris' Bachelor's in Theater from Towson University. Son Darin, also graduating from Towson University, was a student of history with a passion for calligraphy and apprenticed alongside Gerry laying out galley sheets in Bookmark Studio during his middle school years. Sharie went on to teach acting and direct theatrical productions with hundreds of young people and adults at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Colonial Players and Severn School. Tony met his wife Kim at Peabody Conservatory. Tony went on to serve in the U.S. Naval Academy Band for more than 20 years and he and Kim remain full-time musicians playing with area symphonies including the Annapolis Symphony, teaching in Anne Arundel County Public Schools and privately and playing gigs throughout the Annapolis-Washington-Baltimore area. Daughter Kris transitioned to nonprofit leadership following a decade as a professional actor, the majority spent in New York City.

Gerry is survived by his former wife Sharie Lacey Valerio, son Tony Valerio and wife Kim Valerio, daughter Kris Valerio Shock and husband Tom Shock, grandson Christopher and step grand-daughters Zoe, Mia and Skylar Shock, all of Annapolis; and sisters Susan Valerio and Mary Valerio Koveleski and many nieces and nephews, all of Michigan.

He is predeceased by his son, Darin Lacey Valerio, brother John Valerio and parents Herman and Virginia Valerio.

A memorial service will be held 11:00am on Sunday, April 24th at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts 801 Chase St, Annapolis, MD 21401.

In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials in his name to ASO at https://annapolissymphony.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n1R00001u8y35QAA&, the SPCA at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/AACSPCA or Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts at https://ticketing.marylandhall.org/donate/q/donate will be appreciated.

Maryland Hall posted a tribute with a video for Gerard Anthony “Gerry” Valerio on their website. The tribute and video can be viewed at https://www.marylandhall.org/news-blog/maryland-hall-remembers-gerry-valerio/.

Gerard Anthony “Gerry” Valerio, was featured in the March 17th edition of the Capital available here: https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/bs-md-ob-gerard-valerio-20220317-pevd7osejnbt3mpxstsnd4driy-story.html