George Carl Gerber

George Carl Gerber was born in Washington, DC on September 10, 1932, the son of Kathryn Douglas Gerber (1906-80) and Carl Bruno Gerber (1904-60). He grew up in Arlington, Virginia graduating from Washington & Lee High School and from Duke University with honors as a civil engineer and served in the U.S. Air Force achieving the rank of Captain during the Korean War. On December 28, 1958 in the Great Choir of the Washington National Cathedral, he married Betty Jane Washington Thornton Johnson, daughter of Nelson T. Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Australia (1941-1945) and the longest serving U.S. Minister/Ambassador to China (1928-1941).

A resident of McLean, Virginia from 1966, George was a prolific practicing civil/structural engineer during a long and successful private sector career which spanned more than 65 years and included design work on more than 7,000 major public and private buildings in Washington, D.C. including the Pentagon, Intelsat Headquarters, and Georgetown University. He also had a particular interest in historic structures which led him to purchase and restore the Forrest-Marbury House in Georgetown, a Category 1 Historic Landmark, which was the location of George Washington’s historic meeting with the landowners of the future City of Washington and also home to William Marbury of the famous Marbury vs. Madison case which first established the right of judicial review and separation of powers that we all enjoy today. George had many hobbies including collecting gems and minerals, coins, and stamps, but he was particularly skilled at genealogy which led him to trace his ancestors back to German, Dutch, Scottish, and English roots including common soldiers in famous battles of the Civil War, officers in the American Revolution, passengers on the Mayflower, settlers of Jamestown, and fifteen Barons (Sureties) of the Magna Carta.

George travelled extensively for work and pleasure in the U.S., Europe, and Asia and was a great outdoorsman starting early in life as an Eagle Scout. He had a quick and easy wit, a light and caring heart, and was a devoted husband and father.

George died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024. He is predeceased by his sister, Sara Kathryn Gerber McConnell (1930-2023) and survived by his wife Betty Jane, his sons and daughters-in-law James & Ann Gerber and John & Susan Gerber, and his grandchildren Elizabeth, James, William, and Robert.