GEORGE F. GJERSET M.D.

1952 - 2018

January 31, 1952 -
March 6, 2018

George F. Gjerset, M.D., age 66, of Shoreline, WA, died unexpectedly on March 6, 2018 due to sudden complications from intestinal surgery. His family was by his side.

George was a medical oncologist with North Puget Oncology, serving the Skagit Valley and Anacortes communities. As a colleague, he was highly respected. As a physician, he was a fierce patient advocate, who dedicated his practice to curing cancer, or short of that, providing the best possible outcome and hope for each person. His tenacious, kind, and compassionate spirit will be missed. George was dedicated to working for his patients; his care for them was deeply purposeful. He had no intention of retiring because his work was challenging and engaging. He was a gifted artist; his drawings encouraged patients to adorn the walls in his office with their own handmade expressions of thanks.

George had a vast array of knowledge, largely because of his intense curiosity and interest in talking with people. He could cleverly engineer ways to make household repairs even if he needed to create the parts himself, he collected old typewriters, and he celebrated when his diesel Mercedes (bought new in 1999 in Germany) turned 400,000 miles last year. He tutored his sons, a nephew, and young friends in calculus into the wee hours of the night, inspiring them with his enthusiasm for math as a language for solving puzzles. He humbly provided steady, wise advice. He loved hiking to high points with spectacular views. San Diego and Norway, both places of family origin, were favorite destinations. Above all, his family was important to him and he was unwavering in his care and love.

George was born in Weymouth, MA, to Stefani and Oswald Gjerset on January 31, 1952. He grew up in San Diego, where his friendship with Jan Hastings, whom he met at UC San Diego, became a lifelong romance and marriage lasting 38 years. Their son Jonathan was born in 1989 followed by their son Paul in 1991. Jan and Jonathan are grateful for the love and support they shared with George after they faced a profound loss when Paul died at age 21 in 2013. Paul was also a most compassionate, sensitive, creative, witty and kind soul. As a student at the University of Arizona, he was successful in his studies while also working as a chef. His wisdom is part of the fabric of their lives.

George completed his M.D. degree at UCSD. Following his residency in internal medicine, he moved to Seattle for a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a position as a Clinical Assistant Professor at UW. He discovered an overriding passion for direct patient care and was associated with North Puget Oncology for over 20 years.

George is survived by his wife, Janis Hastings, son Jonathan Hastings Gjerset; sister Ruth Gjerset and her son Emmanuel Parello; brother John Gjerset and sister-in-law Susan and their children, Peter and Alex; sister-in-law Marla Hastings and brother-in-law David Boyd and their daughters Maddie Boyd, Kelsey Maldonado and her wife Alicia, and Carla Terre and her husband Dan, mother-in-law, Euretta (Widgie) Hastings and many other loving extended family and friends.

There was a private family service and burial on March 10, 2018, and the family is grateful to our dear friend, The Rev. Susan Cyr, for conducting the service and for her compassionate words.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for May; details will be provided later on Beck's Tribute Center webpage.

Please share memories there at: http://www.becksfuneralhome.com/obituaries

Donations in George's memory can be made to: Island Hospital Foundation: https://www.islandhospitalfoundation.org/ which supports the independent, publicly funded hospital where George was an integral part of the Cancer Care Center; or The Compassionate Friends (TCF), https://www.compassionatefriends.org/ (please add in comments that your contribution is for TCF Eastside, Kirkland, WA).