Francis W. Gerow ’53

Francis W. Gerow, 81, of Springfield, Va., passed on to his final command station on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, after going into cardiac arrest. He was born Aug. 22, 1932, in Pittsfield, Maine, to William (from Canada) and Louise (from England) Gerow. Frank was the youngest of nine kids (six sisters/two brothers). He grew up in Waterville, Maine, and attended Waterville High School. He went on to Maine Maritime Academy and graduated in 1953. He began his sailing career in the merchant marine followed by 26 years in the Navy before retiring as a captain in 1979. Upon retirement Frank began his 16-year government contract career supporting the Navy and eventually retiring again in 1996.

While in the Navy, Frank was routinely deployed for months sailing on aircraft carriers where he was the chief engineer responsible for more than 200 personnel. Frank’s last duty station was at NAVSEA headquarters where he was in charge of all aircraft carriers throughout the world.

Frank married the love of his life, Julia Farrell Gerow, in 1955. He lived with his family in various Navy communities to include Freeport and Brunswick Maine, Boston and Quincy, Mass., Newport, R.I., Monterey, Calif., St. Louis, Mo., and finally Alexandria, Va., where he resided for 34 years. In 2007 he and his wife Julia moved to the Greenspring Retirement Village in Springfield, Va.
Throughout his life Frank was an avid fisherman enjoying brook and lake fishing. He purchased a log cabin on Snow Pond in Oakland, Maine, in 1967, where he spent all of summers until his passing. He was born in Maine and although he spent most of his adult life stationed elsewhere he never forgot where he came from and always believed that Maine was his home. He will be remembered as a man with a down to earth, humble demeanor that always had a joke to tell. With a “can do” and “let’s get it done attitude,” he was liked by all who knew him.

Frank was a devout Catholic and member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church who donated his personal time and money supporting others in need to include doing taxes for the less fortunate at the local library during tax season for more than 20 years.
Besides his beloved Julia, wife of 58 years, Frank leaves his five children, Michelle Kasak (Christian), of Charlotte, N.C., Frank (Connie) Gerow, of Alexandria, Va., Ed (Annette) Gerow, of Fairfax, Va., Pete (Diane) Gerow, of Indialantic, Fla., and Philip (Coleen) Gerow, of Alexandria, Va.; two sisters, Hilda Powers and Priscilla Veilleux; grandfather of 10, Zac, Jacquelyn and Philip Kasak and Nicole, Stephanie, Frank, Eddie, Julia, Rachael and Luke Gerow; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may gather at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mount Vernon Hwy. Alexandria, Va., on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, in his memory, may be made to the American Diabetes Association , P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Arrangements by Jefferson Funeral Chapel.