Judge J. Gerard Lewis

1939 - 2023

On Monday, March 6, 2023, Judge J. Gerard Lewis, 83, passed away from pancreatic cancer in Covesville, VA, surrounded by his family and friends. Jerry, as he was known, was the second of three sons of John E. and Margaret M. Lewis. Jerry was born August 1, 1939 in Havertown, PA. He grew up in the Media/Lima area in SE Pennsylvania, attended grade school at Nativity BVM in Media and St. Francis De Sales School in Lenni. He graduated from St. James High School in Chester, PA in 1957. He served in the US Army as a military policeman stationed in Fairbanks, AK from 1962-64. Jerry earned his BS degree from West Chester State College in 1965. Upon graduation, he taught high school in Chester, PA. From 1966 to 1971 he worked for the CIA as an intelligence officer, with tours in Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War. He later attended Villanova Law School and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1974. He briefly worked for the US Interstate Commerce Commission before going into private practice. Always the defender and protector of "the little man," Jerry served as a public defender in Washington, D.C. for over 25 years. In 2005, he became a federal administrative law judge for the Department of Health and Human Services in Irvine, CA and Washington, DC until his retirement in 2019.

He married his college sweetheart, Susan Eileen Reed, on March 27, 1965. They had been married for 58 years when he died. They had two sons, Brian, 57, and Kevin, 56, and a daughter, Erin, 50. The family lived in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania before settling in rural Virginia.

He was an avid reader of many books and topics and had an enormous intellect. He also loved to argue and would on any topic relevant at the time. His favorite place was their home/farm/woods in Castleton, VA, amongst the dogs, horses, farm animals, and trees.

He is survived by his wife Eileen, his sons Brian, Kevin and daughter-in-law Wendy, his daughter Erin, his granddaughters Jamie, Rachael, Kelly, and Chloe, his grandsons Ethan and Jacob, his three great grandchildren Grayson, Presley and Bexley, and his two brothers Jack and Tony Lewis and their families.

He will be remembered as a loving and supportive dad, grandfather, and husband, a defender of those in need, and for his knowledge and belief in the law and jurisprudence.

Teague Funeral Service is entrusted with handling arrangements.