Gerald T. Terlep

Dr. Gerald T. Terlep passed away on January 31, 2022, at the age of 78, at the Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Twp. Gerald spent more than 50 years as a social worker and therapist. He cherished his work and his clients, many of them survivors of war, addiction and violence who came to him seeking peace and a better life. He delighted in their stories, wisdom and humor, and in plowing through bureaucracy and red tape to access help to which they were entitled. He was especially proud of the private therapy practice, CUBE, he founded and operated with his wife Nancy. Nancy was the love of Gerald’s life. They were inseparable and nothing made him happier than sharing moments big and small with his wife of 33 years, from weddings and travel, to their daily breakfasts together and shared love of reading. His doctoral dissertation was “The Experience of Love in Marriage.” The father of a blended family, Gerald believed that love, not blood, ran thicker than water and he instilled those values in his children and grandchildren. He believed that a richly lived life was not an easy life, but a useful one. Gerald was uninterested in material possessions or status symbols, in part because his strongest kinship was with society’s underdogs and fighters. He thought they were the smartest, strongest and bravest. The oldest of six siblings, Gerald’s father died when he was 11-years-old and his mother fought mightily to keep the family united. He took on the role of father figure both after the death of his father and after the loss of his stepfather, Francis Marcin, later in his life. Gerald’s two brothers and three sisters were beloved to him, as were his 10 nieces and nephews and their children. Like their mother, who died in 1995 in Gerald’s arms, Gerald and his siblings have worked hard to remain in one another’s lives, and to this day maintain meaningful relationships despite living hundreds of miles apart. These connections remain with the younger generations. Gerald earned a doctorate while raising three children along with Nancy, who at the time was earning her master’s degree. He was passionate about history, philosophy and education, while also believing he had as much to learn from a single mom or a veteran as from history’s greatest philosophers. He found current events bemusing, and loved to share his spin on the latest news. He eschewed modern technology, including the internet, but during the last two years figured out enough so that he was able to join weekly video calls with both his immediate and extended family. He loved collecting United Nations stamps because they captured history, but also because they have no real monetary value and are therefore easy to come by. Gerald died of Covid-19 after two weeks in the hospital in which he was not able to see any of his family. The nurses and doctors who cared for him did the absolute best they could under extreme hardship as the hospital ICU filled with Covid patients and the staff became increasingly depleted. He was vaccinated and received a booster shot as soon as he could. He worked from home and stayed inside to remain safe. Gerald harbored no ill will toward the unvaccinated or those who differed politically. He believed in total acceptance of people and of their beliefs; he did not hate. His family asks that you reflect on what you are doing to prevent further devastating losses due to this pandemic, and that you consider doing more. He was born on August 14, 1943 to Wilbert and Frances (Ochs) Terlep in Joliet, IL. Beloved husband of 33 loving years to Nancy G. (Raymond). Loving father of Andrew Raymond, The Rev. Dr. Alan (Jessica) and Sharon (Rachel Hood). Dear grandfather of Jazz Raymond, Aspen (Dani Rollins), Hassan McClean and Murphy Hood Terlep. Cherished brother of James Terlep (Rosa), Cathy Stocz (Donald), Mary Beth Wiley (Dan), Mary Lou Regan (James) and Webb Terlep (Belle). Visitation for Gerald will be on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until a 4:00 p.m. funeral service at the Gendernalik Funeral Home, 35259 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore. Gerald's family asks that all visitors that come to the funeral home to please wear a mask, if you do not have any the family will provide KN 95 or N 95 mask for you and your family. Memorial donations may be made to Turning Point, Inc. Domestic Violence Shelter, P.O. Box 1123, Mt. Clemens, MI 48046

Gerald T. Terlep

August 14, 1943 - January 31, 2022