Dr. H. Gerald Rock

ROCK, Dr. H. GERALD, a respected surgeon and founding partner of Kent Surgical Associates who served as Chief of Staff and Director of Emergency Services at Kent Hospital, died peacefully at his home in Warwick on Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 85.

Dr. Rock was born in Plattsburgh, New York on August 12, 1919. He attended Plattsburgh State Teacher's College and State University of New York in Albany and was working toward a teaching degree when America entered World War II. He joined the Army Air Corps and, as a First Lieutenant, piloted a B-24 Liberator named the 'Holiday Inn'. As part of the 8th AAC, 491st Bomb Group, he flew the 'Holiday Inn' over France during the invasion of Europe on D-Day.

On August 13, 1944, one day after his 25th birthday, while flying his 29th mission, he was shot down over Normandy. He was rescued and hidden for nearly a month by the French Underground before returning to the Allies. Shortly after he was shot down his rescuers took his dog tags, his passport, his wallet, and his watch, anything that would identify him as an American. Almost a month later, after he reached Rouen, he recalled standing in the crowd during their liberation celebration when a stranger came up to him and handed him a package containing his dog tags, his passport, his wallet, and his watch. Dr. Rock returned to France in 1996 and was honored by the town of Le Havre where he was reunited with his rescuers, but was unable to learn the identity of the stranger or how he found him. His rescuers later said the young American Lieutenant was easy to hide because he was so calm and so unafraid.

After the war, he returned to the States for one year of post-graduate studies at Union College in Schenectady, New York before enrolling at Harvard Medical College where he received his degree in 1950. During that time, he continued his aviation life, flying a seaplane on Lake Champlain and giving rides to tourists in the summers. In October, 1948 he married Margaret Paine of Warwick

Neck.

As an intern, he reenlisted in the Army Air Corps during the Korean War and served at the William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso, Texas, treated the wounded and for four years served his residency at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In 1955, he returned to Warwick where he founded Kent Surgical Associates. He joined the staff of the Kent County Hospital on September 15, 1955 when the hospital was only three years old. In 1977, he became the President of the Medical Staff and served as Chief of Staff from 1978 until 2000, In 1983, he became Director of Emergency Services and retired from medicine in August, 1999. He was elected to the Warwick School Committee in 1964 and served as its Chairman until 1972 during which time he spearheaded the building of the Tolgate Complex. In 1978 he resumed flying. His wife joined him as a pilot in their Piper Cherokee and they were familiar figures at T. F. Greene Airport.

He is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, Margaret Paine Rock of Warwick; a brother Donald F. Rock of Bradenton, Florida; a sister, Elizabeth J. Rock. of Bradenton and Wellesley, Massachusetts, his children John W. Rock of Cranston, Peter T. Rock of San Francisco, California, Allison Rock of Barrington, Elizabeth A. Rock of Cranston, Michael J. Rock of New York City, 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He was the brother of the late William J. Rock and Marjorie A. M. Guntner.

A Memorial Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated Monday April 25, 2005 at 12 Noon in St. Mary 's Episcopal Church, 358 Warwick Neck Avenue, Warwick. Relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours are respectfully omitted. Kindly omit flowers.

Gifts in his memory to Kent County Hospital, 455 Tollgate Road, Warwick, RI 02886 would be appreciated. Arrangements by THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, Warwick.