Ward

Kerry Dawson Ward

Kerry Dawson Ward, legendary teacher and coach at Bethesda Chevy Chase and Walt Whitman High Schools, died of a cerebral hemorrhage January 31, 2023 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, at the age of 88.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1934 to newspaperman, Paul W. Ward, and Dorothy Cate Ward, Kerry spent his earliest years in London where his father was chief of the London Bureau of the Baltimore Sun. Returning to the States in 1940, Kerry was raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland where he attended Somerset School, Leland Junior High School and graduated Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. He lived in the area for the rest of his life.

After high school, Kerry went to Washington College in Chestertown for one year and then transferred to the University of Maryland, receiving his degree in history. Mr. Ward then took a position in an elementary school and discovered to his

delight that he loved teaching. He was a natural.

Mr. Ward received his masters degree in teaching from Johns Hopkins and soon was starting his first year as a teacher at his alma mater B-CC. That marked the beginning of his coaching career. As of 2015, it was noted by Kevin Milsted of "MocoRunning" website that in the early '70s, Mr. Ward had won a total of 13 cross-country state titles, six with B-CC and seven with Whitman. "Specifically, the Whitman boys and girls cross country teams won three consecutive state titles, a feat no other coach in Maryland had matched at that time." Kerry also coached the boys and girls indoor and outdoor track teams at BCC and Whitman that won numerous championships.

Coach Ward had always been an advocate for varsity sports for women. While at B-CC, he had hosted the first official Cross Country meet for girls in Montgomery County and coached the girls varsity basketball team. After transferring to Walt Whitman High School, he coached the Girls varsity basketball team for many years and his team won the Maryland State Championship in 1992.

The team unity that Ward had taught and insisted on, led to a close bond between Ward's students and athletes. After his retirement he kept in touch with many of them and was always eager to hear from them.

He is survived by his sister, Marren Meehan (Thomas Meehan), nieces Shelagh Meehan, and nephews Paul Meehan (Virginia Phillips), and Tom Meehan, and great nephews Conor, Aidan and Tate Smyth and great nieces Callie Meehan and Susan Forootan.

In addition to his family he leaves behind a large group of fond friends and his beloved extended family of those he coached, mentored and taught for all those years.

There will be a gathering in remembrance of Kerry at 3:30 p.m., April 15, 2023 at the Edgemoor Club.

Arrangements by the PUMPHREY'S BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE FUNERAL HOME, 7557 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD. Please view and sign family guestbook at

www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Mar. 5, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Kerry Ward

6 Entries

Sacha

November 3, 2023

Mr Ward was one of the first teachers I ever connected with and taught me some important lessons about independent thinking and individualism. I admired how he would snub his nose at the administration whenever they would impose silly mandates on him - through him, I really came to appreciate that one was responsible for one's own thinking and education. He was one of a kind, I wish my children could have him as a teacher. I'm Sorry I missed the funeral - but he wouldn't have cared. If he's looking down at us, it will be wearing a blue blazer and leaning on a golf club. You were a good man Mr Ward.

MJ Rice

October 10, 2023

Kerry Wards name has been carried forward in time. A past team member has donated a free pair of running shoes to every student who signed up this fall to run cross country at Elkton HS in Cecil County MD. Kerry would be proud of the positive, caring spirit this team of over 30 students has adopted.

Peter J

September 22, 2023

I still think almost daily about things I learned in Mr. Ward's class in 1984. What he taught me was probably more useful than anything else I learned in high school or the seven years of school that followed.

I am lucky I had you as a teacher Mr. Ward, thank you. I am sorry to learn of your death, I always hoped to see you again.

Tom Lando

July 10, 2023

Kerry was unique and willing to try anything to improve his runners performance and it showed in the results. One of the first to believe adding mileage was the key-we ran more miles in High School than I did in College

Paul Franssen

July 5, 2023

This .. hurts. Kerry was my American history teacher and Track coach at BCC in Bethesda in 1966-7, shortly after I returned to Belgium.
I offer sincere condolences to the bereaved...a good man there...

Leigh Morfit Fletcher

June 16, 2023

Mr. Ward was a wonderful, inspiring coach and teacher, embodying high values in everything he taught. In sociology and anthropology, he taught how to think on a much broader scale. His treatment of other people was humane and considerate, and he tried to teach this to the cross-country team as he went along. His humanity and compassion have influenced my whole life. Thank you. ~~ Leigh Morfit Fletcher

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