Jean Sutherland Gerrish

Jean Sutherland Gerrish, age 95, of East Providence, RI., passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026. She was a resident of Tockwotton on the Waterfront for a brief but happy time and had previously resided at Brightview Commons, Wakefield RI. Jean was born at Waterbury Hospital, Conneticut, on August 27, 1930, the third child of John M. and Belle O. Sutherland. She graduated from Russell Sage College where she met her future husband, George B. Gerrish, who was attending Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School of Business. Following their marriage, they moved to Buffalo NY, where they began their family. Soon after, George’s career with IBM brought them to Kensington, MD. While raising a busy family of four, she was actively involved in a wide variety of community organizations including Montgomery County Thrift Shop, Kensington Historical Society, Meals on Wheels, Foreign Languages in Elementary School and the Women’s Club of Kensington. She was a devoted member of The Christ Episcopal Church of Kensington and The Christ Church of Chevy Chase, MD. Widowed at the age of 50, Jean continued to find ways to broaden her horizons and offer her experience and strengths. She worked for Kennedy Bank, she was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, worked for The Prevention of Blindness, served on the board of Iona Senior Services and was invited to join the PEO Sisterhood. Some of her many passions were: traveling as a family, the love of history, gourmet cooking, antiques, literature, perfecting the art of playing bridge, her membership with Westerly College Club and her many 100’s of gifted pigs from family and friends. Above all was the joy she received from the longtime friends and family gatherings at the cottage, JABOJE, in Quonochontaug, (Quonnie) Central Beach. She was preceded in death by her husband, George, her brothers John M. Sutherland Jr. (Jack), his wife Jean and Robert C. Sutherland (Bob). She is survived by her sister-in-law, Jeanne (Jimmie). Her children, Meg Stone (Dave) and their children Jenny (Wick), Matt (Mandy), Jimmy; Susi Brodie and her children Jon (Kat), Jeff; Jamie Gerrish (Cathy) and their children Alex and Molly (Jake); and Anne Reese and her children Ashley and Zack. She is survived by 10 great grandchildren: Finnegan, Conor, Margot, Kenzie, Piper, Hudson, Jack, Noah, Edwin, Elijah. A family service and gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tockwotton on the Waterfront, 500 Waterfront Drive, East Providence, RI. 02914 or a charity of your choice.

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Jean Sutherland Gerrish

March 31, 2026