Jerold Joseph Principato M.D.

09/02/1940 - 11/21/2024

On November 21, 2024 Jerold Joseph Principato, M.D.

His loss is deeply felt by his family and friends in the United States, the UK and Spain.

Born in New York, Jerry attended Midwood High School, where he was elected Mayor of the City of Midwood's Student Government and the "Boy Most Likely to Succeed." He excelled at Cornell University and was awarded a Dean's Scholarship. He left in three years, having earned the NY State Regents Scholarship in Medicine, to attend medical school at the State University of New York, Downstate, where he was President of his Class. Subsequently, he did his internship and residency training at Yale New Haven Hospital – Yale University. He served as Captain in a medical unit of the U.S. Army Reserve for 6 years.

Jerry opened his private practice in otolaryngology and head & neck surgery in Bethesda, Maryland in 1970 and maintained his practice through 2005. He was Board Certified in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery in 1970, became a Fellow of the College of Surgery in 1971, and later a Fellow of the Royal College of Medicine, UK. Jerry was a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the George Washington School for Medicine and Health Sciences. He was a course instructor at the American Academy of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery. Jerry held hospital privileges at George Washington University Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Suburban Hospital, Montgomery General Hospital, and Fairfax Hospital. He was also a consultant at Walter Reed Hospital. Jerry served as the President of the Washington Medical & Surgical Society and as the Medical Disaster Coordinator for Montgomery County, MD for several years. He was a prospective student alumni interviewer for Cornell University. He was a motivated fundraiser for the expansion of the Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College, Cambridge University UK.

Jerry created and served as Coordinator of the Saudi-U.S. University Project, the purpose of which was to facilitate medical cooperation in clinical, educational and research areas between the Unites States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He subsequently served as Interim CEO of King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh.

He was a member of The Worshipful Company of Gunmaker's Livery in London and was a Freeman of the City of London. A longtime member of the Metropolitan Club of the City of Washington, Jerry also served on its Board and as its President, with distinction. He was a member of the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC as well as the Metropolitan Club of NYC. Jerry was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts, a devotee of game bird shooting, an avid squash player, a fervent wine collector, and faithful friend. He was a thoughtful philanthropist to many institutions and individuals in the U.S. and the UK. A natural leader and brilliant mind, Jerry embodied the Renaissance spirit of "virtù." He brought passion and excellence to his many endeavors and great joy to those who love him. He will be missed by all of us for whom he was a force of wisdom, generosity, compassion, strength, and abundant love.

He is survived by his loving and devoted daughter, Dr. Deborah Ellen Jessiman and his wonderful son-in-law Alistair Jessiman; grandsons Matthew Brinkley Lindsey and his wife Rebecca, Michael Jerold Lindsey, John William Lindsey, and granddaughter Lauren Nicole Principato. He joins his beloved son, Jerold Douglas Principato, M.D. who passed in 2007.

A memorial service will be planned in coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Albans School for Boys, Development Office, Mount St. Alban, N.W., Washington, DC 20016-5069 https://www.stalbansschool.org/online-giving or the Suburban Hospital Foundation, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814