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Boston University Duke University

Gerret Warner Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 12, 2025.

Gerret Preston Warner, beloved husband, father, friend, and film documentarian died Sunday, December 8th, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC surrounded by his family.

Gerret was born in 1945 in New York City to acclaimed folk music collectors, Frank and Anne (Locher) Warner. He attended Friends Academy in Glen Cove, earned an undergraduate degree in English from Duke University and a Master's degree in film from Boston University. In 1969, he met and fell in love with Mimi Gredy at Pinewoods Folk Music and Dance Camp. They married in 1975.

Gerret was a proud father and is remembered by his daughters as a loving, gentle man. A hiker. A musician. A thinker with a deep, artistic soul.

Professionally, Gerret continued his parents' storytelling legacy. His greatest pleasure was producing documentaries about amazing people and their passions, and he documented those stories alongside Mimi through their award-winnings films including Changes In The Wind, Truth Underground, and Polly Hill and Her Arboretum. Most recently, he oversaw the reprinting of his parents' book Traditional American Folk Songs and produced a live touring performance of their collecting trips.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mimi Gredy, three daughters, Abby, Jessie, and Anne, three grandchildren, Isabella, Asher and Lorenzo, as well as his brother Jeff and countless good friends.

There will be a celebration of Gerret's life on July 19th, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Remembrance contributions can be made in his honor to the North Carolina Arts Foundation, Burnsville, NC Hurricane Relief Fund, P.O. Box 26263, Raleigh, NC 27611.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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Mark Johnston

March 4, 2025

I was very sorry to learn of Gerret's passing. I am a former student of Gerret's at Dover-Sherborn High School in Dover, Massachusetts, where Gerret taught English and served as the director of our school's Modified School Life (MSL) program. MSL was created to provide non-traditional educational opportunities outside typical classroom options, and Gerret's creativity and enthusiasm enriched our high school experience. In fact, our Class of 1978 dedicated our yearbook to Gerret for his dedication and support. He was an inspirational teacher and a good friend, and I send along my heartfelt condolences to Mimi and Gerret's family.