Jerome Henry Cripe

Jerome Henry Cripe, M.D., died on December 2, 2024, at the age of 95. Born on November 29, 1929, in Goshen, Indiana, he graduated from Indiana University in 1953 and from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1957. He completed his internship in South Bend, Indiana and trained in both adult and child psychiatry at the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis.

He was staff psychiatrist and later Director of the Mental Health Clinic of Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties in Peoria, Illinois where he later had a private practice in child psychiatry and established an educational service for children with emotional disabilities. Jerry was active in many community groups in Peoria, including The Academy of Religion and Mental Health, Planned Parenthood, Project Concern, NAACP and the Westminster and Kellar Presbyterian Churches. He participated in the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

In 1971, he moved to Maryland and was the Director of Children’s Services of Baltimore County at the Catonsville Mental Health Center where he established a unique program of family psychiatry serving the public schools. Later, he served as staff psychiatrist of the Columbia Medical Plan for 11 years and then returned to private practice for nine years. He served on the boards of Grassroots and the Steven Daniel Jeffries Foundation. Jerry was an activist for causes he cared deeply about, including civil rights, reproductive freedom, voting rights and helping those in need. He lived in Columbia, Maryland for over 50 years and supported Columbia’s founding philosophies of racial and economic integration and the importance of creating community.

He was the devoted husband of Janis Benson Cripe, with whom he had a passionate partnership for 69 years. They shared a mutual love of exploring new ideas, traveling, discussing books and movies and spending time with family and friends. Jerry is survived by Janis and by his three children and their spouses: David Cripe and Kristi DeLarber of Denver, CO, Timothy and Linda Cripe of Columbus, OH, and Susan and Charlie Cronk of San Anselmo, CA; six grandchildren and their spouses / fiancées: Kevin and Ally Cripe, Timothy Cripe and Marissa Gallegos, Jeffrey and Jordan Blosser, Natalie and Sam Cross, Satchel Cronk and Leah Lind-White, and Griffin Cronk and Signe Lindquist; and five great grandchildren: Hayes and Avery Cripe, Emmett and Beckham Blosser and Callum Cross. He will be dearly missed by all.

Until his final days, Jerry was always quick to show kindness and compassion for others. His empathy and gentle nature were a balm for his patients, his family and all who knew him. Jerry will be remembered for his sense of humor, his thoughtfulness and his unfailingly loving words and helpful deeds.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 25, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Senior Star at Dublin Retirement Village, 6470 Post Road, Dublin, Ohio. For a link to join via Zoom, send an email request to [email protected].

Donations may be made in Jerry's memory to PlannedParenthood.org.