Gerald E. Fosbroke

Gerald E. Fosbroke FRANKLIN Gerald (Gerry) Elton Fosbroke died Saturday, April 25, 2009, following a long illness. Born in Baltimore, Md., Aug. 13, 1919, he attended the Donaldson School in Ilchester, Md., graduating at the age of 14. He went on to receive his bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in history from the University of Maryland, and his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School, by the age of 21. Following graduation he joined the law firm of Peabody Brown in Boston. Except for a stint in the Army from 1942-1946, his entire professional career was with Peabody Brown (now Nixon Peabody) where he focused on tax and estate planning. Gerry was a well read, articulate man with a sharp wit and keen insight. He was a man of deep faith who loved the out of doors, music, the theater, and reading. He bestowed these loves on his children as well. One of his passions was the out of doors. He became a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club in 1948. With his family, he spent many a night in the AMC huts and hiking. He was an early member of the 4000 Footers Club and frequent trip leader. His favorite AMC trip was as trip leader for an August Camp in the Windriver Range. A picture from that trip remained on his bedroom wall from his return until his death - nearly 50 years. He had a vision for the AMC to reach a membership of 25,000 and to have a major impact on conservation efforts. At the time no one thought it possible. Now it is nearly 90,000 strong and having a growing impact on conservation efforts. Gerry served on the Board of Directors from 1950-1972, including terms as councilor of excursions (1950-1952), councilor at large (1968-1969), councilor of natural resources (1970-1972), vice president (1954), president (1955-1956) and treasurer (1957-1967). Another passion was the church. He was an associate of the Society of Saint John The Evangelist, where he served as legal council from 1949 to the early '90s. He sang in the choir at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, for 15 years and served the Vicars Advisory Council as chair of the finance committee. He was always active in whatever church community he found himself. One of his favorite accomplishments was being an organizing trustee of the Iona Community New World Foundation, Iona, Scotland. He was a lover of music and the arts, served on the Board of the Massachusetts Bible Society, the Shakespeare Club of Boston, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra Inc. of Boston, as well as the Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations, and The Society of Philatelic Americans. Gerry is survived by a daughter, the Rev. Frances Fosbroke Cox; and sons, David Elton Fosbroke and Charles Timothy Fosbroke; grandsons, Kenneth Clark Fosbroke and Cole Parker Fosbroke; an uncle, the Rev. William Plummer; and cousin, Ellen Preston. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, 35 Bowdoin St., Boston. Contributions may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club, 5 Joy St., Boston MA 02108, or The Society of St John the Evangelist, 980 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02138.