Gerald Mack Fry

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Gerald Mack Fry. “Gerry” passed away peacefully on December 7, 2022, at his home in Thousand Oaks at the age of 89, following one year of medical challenges.

Gerry was born March 20, 1933 in Spokane, Washington, the son of William and Pearl Fry. He was preceded in death by his brother Kenneth Fry and his sister Beulah Kuhlman Luck.

He developed an intense interest in radio broadcasting, deciding in the third grade he wanted to become an announcer. He began his “broadcasting” career at an early age, when he and his lifelong friend created a basement “radio station,” playing records for the family upstairs. Using a simple oscillator, a microphone and turntable, the two played records, read commercials and newscopy from newspapers. They named their station KFSD, for Ki-Fry station deluxe, and Larry Kiser’s parents were the lucky audience upstairs. Fortunately he later developed a broadcaster’s voice that served him well.

At North Central High School in Spokane he wrote and announced a weekly high school radio program on KFIO, with students from the other three high schools in Spokane. He was a staff writer for the school newspaper, doing interviews with band leader Tex Beneke and concert violinist Yehudi Menuhin, among others. He was active in many dramatic productions, as well as first chair clarinetist in the high school band, played saxophone in the Pep Band, and was selected for the Spokane All City Grade School Band.

Fry is a graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, class of 1954, with a B.A. in Speech and Dramatic Arts. While at Whitman, he established a campus radio station, producing and announcing weekly classical pipe organ concerts that aired in the Northwest, as well as an announcer for KUJ, and a charter member of the Whitman Radio Guild. He was first chair clarinetist for the Whitman College band and the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra. As a drama major, he took many roles in plays at the Whitman Theater. He became Editor-in-Chief of the campus newspaper, The Whitman Pioneer. He was selected for Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. He became president of his TKE fraternity, and in 1954, the national fraternity named him “Top TKE of the Year.” He is a graduate of the NBC Radio and Television Institute at Stanford University, including broadcasting experience at KNBC and KPIX in San Francisco.

After graduation, he worked as an announcer, producer and director of commercial radio and TV stations at KFBB in Great Falls, Montana, and KIDO-TV in Boise, Idaho. The Army called and he spent two years serving as Chief, Radio & TV Branch, 10th Infantry Division Public Information Office at Wuerzburg, Germany. Following his discharge from the Army, Gerry returned to civilian broadcasting at KHSL-TV in Chico, California. Because of his on-camera commercials during San Francisco 49er football games, KCRA-TV (NBC) in Sacramento offered him a position as announcer and director. It was in Sacramento that he met his future wife, employed at KVIE (PBS) and ABC KOVR-TV (ABC).

Gerry married the former Martha “Marty” Metzler on December 22, 1963, in Stockton, California, at Morris Chapel on the campus of the University of the Pacific. In 1964 he was named civilian Program Director of the Southern Command Network in the former Panama Canal Zone, a position he held for the next 12 years. During those years two daughters joined the family, Malena and Alison.

In 1976, Fry was appointed Assistant Director of the Navy Broadcasting Service in the Pentagon, and the family moved to Annandale, Virginia, fifteen miles from our Nation’s Capitol.

In 1982, he became Director of Programming for the worldwide AFRTS in Hollywood, where he helped produce and distribute programming for 400 radio and some 40 TV outlets overseas, in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Spain, Italy, Germany, Panama, and Iceland, in addition to U. S. military ships at sea. He was awarded both the Navy Superior Civilian Services Medal, the second highest civilian honor given by the Navy, and the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.

After 32 years with AFRTS, Gerry retired when AFRTS broadcast headquarters moved to March Air Reserve Base in 1996. He has remained active in the broadcast community. He has been a member of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters since 1982, has served on its board of directors, as audio historian, and as its website manager. He has served on the Thousand Oaks’ Citizens Advisory Cable Television Committee. For the next ten years, following retirement, he served as a background actor in film, TV shows, commercials and music videos.

In 2013, Gerry was honored by Whitman College with the Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement, for his “remarkable career in radio and television that exemplifies the benefits of a liberal arts education.”

Gerry and his family have resided in Thousand Oaks since 1982. Following their retirements, Gerry and Marty enjoyed travel, especially seven memorable ocean and river cruises. His prime focus was always his immediate family, all of whom live nearby. Gerry’s passing has left a huge hole in our hearts, but he left us with many precious memories. Gerry leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Marty, and daughters Malena Murray and Alison Bahr, son-in-law Roger Murray, granddaughters Makenna Murray and Madison Murray, grandsons Mason Bahr, Clayton Murray and Dylan Bahr, and proud “Grandpapa” to great-granddaughter Ryann Bishop. He is also survived by nieces and a nephew in Washington state.

Cremation services provided by Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks in Westlake Village. Gerry’s “Celebration of Life” will be honored privately.