Gerard Kakos

Jerry was a dedicated and well-respected thoracic surgeon and a loving father, husband, partner, grandfather, and friend. Known for his ability to bring calm to chaos with a perfectly dry joke and a genial grin, Jerry leaves behind a legacy of laughter, generosity, and kindness.

Jerry is survived by his beloved partner Susan Schultz; his daughters, Stephanie Kraft (Mike), Anna Kakos (Patrick Okell), and Kristin Leclaire (Jason); his sister, Joan McHale; his grandchildren, Tyler (fiancée Emily), Christopher, Lila, Finn, Sam, and Henry; Susan’s children, Chris Connor, Michael Connor (Tamara), Kate Ferguson (Adam); Susan’s grandchildren Skylar Connor, and Finn, Liam and Hannah Ferguson; and many cousins, nephews and nieces. Jerry is predeceased by his father, Stephen; his mother, Margaret; his wife, Diana Kakos; and his brother-in-law, Bill McHale.

Jerry was born in New York City on March 15, 1943, son to Stephen and Margaret Kakos. He spent his early years in the Bronx attending P.S. 7 elementary school until the family relocated to the Midwest. His parents had a strong work ethic that they infused in their children Jerry and his sister Joan. They worked hard so Jerry and Joan could be the first ones in the family to receive a high school education. After graduating from St. Francis DeSales High School in Toledo, Ohio, Jerry enrolled at The Ohio State University, receiving a B.A. in Anatomy. He completed his medical degree and his thoracic/cardiovascular residency at Ohio State, and then went on to Duke University as a National Institutes of Health fellow. Jerry joined Ohio State’s faculty as assistant professor (1973-1979), served as associate professor (1979-1984), and as clinical associate professor (1984-2008), including the leadership role of interim divisional chief for thoracic surgery (1984-1986). He became faculty emeritus in 2008. Over the course of Jerry’s 35-year career with Ohio State and in private practice, he performed over 7,500 open and closed heart surgeries. As masterful as he was as a doctor, Jerry was equally skilled and respected as a mentor, and we take comfort in knowing that Jerry’s expertise lives on in future generations of surgeons. In 2012, Jerry endowed the Gerard S. Kakos, MD and Thomas E. Williams Jr., MD, PhD Professorship to Ohio State’s Division of Cardiac Surgery. Ohio State honored Jerry in 2022 with an Alumni Service Award.

Jerry was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at Ohio State. It was at Ohio State where Jerry met his wife, Diana. They married in 1964, raised three daughters, built their dream home, enjoyed tennis and golf, and traveled the world until Diana’s death in 2007.

Even at the height of his busy career, Jerry always made time for father-daughter dances, over-the-top celebrations, faraway vacations, hunting excursions, and golf games. As a dad, Jerry taught his daughters to value education, to take pride in their careers, and to “never accept any wooden nickels.” Later, he made time for visits with his grandchildren, who giggled at his “knuckle sandwich” jokes, inherited his appreciation of train sets, and absorbed his grandpa advice. His best advice: “Appreciate what you have.”

Jerry considered himself incredibly lucky to find love again when he met Susan on a blind date over fourteen years ago. Susan brought joy and fun back into Jerry’s life. They laughed together, created a lovely home together - made even lovelier by Susan’s art - and traveled to exotic destinations like Egypt, Turkey and Greece. Jerry even attended art classes with Susan, and he was shyly proud of his carved owl sculpture. Jerry thought of Susan’s children and grandchildren as family, and he expressed deep gratitude for the devoted care Susan gave him as his health declined.

Though Jerry was a self-proclaimed introvert, he had an active social life and enjoyed traveling and dining with the many, many people who loved and respected him. He liked a good conversation, sometimes on the living room couch with the backdrop of NCIS or FBI on TV, and sometimes on the balcony at Barefoot Beach with the sun setting into the soft waves of the Florida Gulf. Called upon often for advice, comfort, or cheer, Jerry always ended his chats with “Be good, my friend,” or “I love you.”

The family is holding a private service later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to I Know I Can at iknowican.org or to the The Kakos and Williams Professorship Fund at the Ohio State Ross Heart Hospital at wexnermedical.osu.edu/ways-to-give.