John Roger Gernert

John Roger Gernert was born on December 12, 1926 and entered eternity at the age of 96 on June 26, 2023. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, always more concerned for those around him than for himself. He was a life-long learner and a voracious reader of newspapers, magazines, and books. His father and uncle owned a lumber company and John was a skilled woodworker... and could seemingly fix or build anything and everything...and did so for anyone and everyone! He was outrageously curious, particularly about the universe, the vast and complex world in which we live, and how the human species evolved and what it may achieve in the future. (He agreed with Carl Sagan that "somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known" and at his 96th birthday party was thrilled by the attendance of an astrophysicist!) He was gracious, self-deprecating, modest, and kind. He was the ultimate gentleman. He lived a positive and impactful life and passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.
In 1926, John was born on his parents' dining room table in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. He had the good sense and great fortune to marry Elizabeth Lee "Bettie" Morat of Anchorage, Kentucky in 1948, and for 31 years they built a life and family together before Bettie passed away in 1979. They raised four sons, John Randolph "Randy" (deceased), William Rudolph "Rudy" (Melissa), George Robert "Rob" (Jessica), and Lewis Reed "Reed" (Susan), and leave behind numerous impressive grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Robin Jarrell (Bobby), Layne Gernert, Lyle Loogman (Zach), Carson Gernert (Becca), Alex Gernert (Karley), Ben Gernert, Taylor Gernert (deceased), Elee Gernert, Lillie Gernert, George Gernert, Sophie Gernert, Henry Gernert, MacKenzie Jarrell, Jackson Jarrell, and Alexandra Jarrell.
In 1945, as a young Sergeant in the U.S. Army, John was stationed in Japan at Tokyo General Hospital, where he worked with English-speaking Japanese doctors and served as a medical technician. Soon after his return to the U.S., he earned bachelor's degrees in both biology and secondary education at the University of Kentucky (1951) and a master's degree in physiology at Miami of Ohio (1953). Although he had considered a career in medicine, his love of teaching led him in another direction. He taught science in the Jefferson County and New Albany School systems before joining Louisville Country Day School in 1959 as a Chemistry teacher and the Chair of the Science Department. His passion for teaching and his patient, kind, and yet firm demeanor soon led to his promotion to Assistant Headmaster, and in 1968 his talents as an administrator afforded him the opportunity to become the school's Headmaster. He astutely managed LCD's overall growth and its transition in 1972 to becoming Kentucky Country Day School following a merger with the Kentucky Home School for Girls. For the next several years John led the transformational growth of KCD, including the development of its nearly 80-acre campus on Springdale Road in 1978. He "retired" from KCD in 1980, but decided to take on yet another challenge when he accepted the headmaster position at Walden School, where he dedicated the next decade to establishing and growing its campus on Westport Road.
John raised his children and taught those of others through decades of profound changes in American politics and social norms, from the civil rights movement, women's "lib", anti-war protests and sit-ins, and "casual" drug use to questionable fashion choices like leisure suits, ruffled bell bottoms and tuxedo shirts, platform shoes, bowl cuts, and mullets. He weathered these storms with a calm, thoughtful, and engaging approach that won scores of admirers, and his ultimate legacy remains the countless lives he touched in such a heartfelt and meaningful way.
Over the course of his 40-year career, John affirmatively touched the lives of countless students, parents, teachers, alumni, and friends. "Mr. Gernert helped tutor me every day after school." "Mr. Gernert is the reason I became a doctor." "Mr. Gernert gave me the confidence to apply to colleges I didn't ever think were within my reach." These are just a few of the innumerable vignettes.
John lived his life with equity and grace and leaves behind an eternal and positive legacy through the people he touched and influenced, and understood – as did one of his heroes, Albert Einstein, that "death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us...."
John's family would like to express its sincere gratitude to Marianne and the loving caregivers at StoryPoint Prospect (Sam N., Sam M., Indigo, Eduardo, and Consuelo) and Hosparus (Jennifer and Danielle).
John's family and friends will gather to share stories and reflect on his meaningful and impactful 97 years on Friday, July 7th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Pearson's Funeral Home, 149 Breckenridge Lane. He will also be honored at a private graveside service, officiated by his friend and former colleague, Rev. Dick Aylor.
For those so inclined, a charitable donation may be made in John's name to Hosparus Health the Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium Kentucky Country Day School or Walden School In lieu of (or in addition to) such a gift, John suggested a note (and we are fairly certain he meant a hand-written note) of gratitude and appreciation to your favorite teacher.
Arrangements under the direction of Pearson's, "Where Louisville Goes to Remember".