Gerald Samuel Johnston M.D. Ph.D.

Gerald Samuel Johnston, M.D., Ph.D., Colonel US Army (Ret.), of Bethesda, Maryland died on April 5, 2025 at the age of 94. Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania he was a 1947 graduate of Ferndale High School, and a 1956 School of Medicine graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. In June of 1956 he married the former Dorothy Jones of Pittsburgh and began his internship as a lieutenant at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC. From 1961-1962, while stationed in Seoul, Korea, he served as Chief of Medicine and Commanding Officer at the 43rd Surgical Hospital. After returning from Korea, he entered the relatively new field of Nuclear Medicine. He was Chief of Nuclear Medicine from 1963-1969 where he treated President Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur at Walter Reed Hospital. In 1969 he received the Legion of Merit Award. He was considered an expert in his field, aware of current trends in the rapidly multiplying uses of radioactive isotopes in human medicine. In 1970 he entered the Public Health Service at NIH in Bethesda, MD. Serving as Chief of Nuclear Medicine from 1971-1982. In 1982 he retired from service and went on to become Professor of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland until 1993. He then became Chairman of Nuclear Medicine, at Washington Hospital Center from 1993-1999. Dr. Johnston is preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years Dorothy, his daughter Amy Tapparo (Dave), parents Fleurence and Lorna Johnston, and his sisters Anita Anderson and Shirley Johnston. Dr. Johnston is survived by his children Joy Biciocchi (Paul), Jill Verna (Mark), Jana Moritzkat (Mike), Gerald Johnston, Jr. (Jane), Douglas Johnston (Kim), 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild. He leaves behind two sisters; Kathy Boyd of Yuma, AZ and Linda Johnston of Las Vegas, NV. In his retirement years he enjoyed spending time with his family in Bethesda, the Eastern Shore, and Bethany Beach. DE. Dr. Johnston will be buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery.