FORT WAYNE - Jerald Lee Andrew MD died Sept. 16, 2009, in his family's cottage at Lake Wawasee, after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.
He was born in 1935 in Marion. He is survived by his wife, Alcora Andrew.
He was a physician in Fort Wayne, and later in Leesburg, for more than four decades.
In a long career in medicine he was the president of the Allen County Medical Association, the medical staff at St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, the Northeast Indiana Heart Association, the Anthony Medical Center and the Fort Wayne Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. He also served as the medical director for many organization, including geriatric services at Lutheran Hospital, Health Line Inc., Medco Nursing Facility, Fort Wayne Rehabilitation Hospital, Life Care Long Term Care, The Lutheran Home and Byron Health Care.
He was founder and first chairman of Fort Wayne Emergency Service Program, the first public utility emergency medical service that became a model for other communities around the United States. The author of many articles, he was a clinical assistant professor at Indiana University Medical School for more than 20 years.
He was a retired U.S. Army captain, serving in the 11th Armored Calvary, Blackhorse Division, in Germany. In the 1990s, he was the host of a medical radio program and the author of a popular booklet on living with Parkinson's disease. He served as medical advisory editor of Horizon Magazine.
He was known as a consummate storyteller, sailor and fisherman and late in his life got involved in politics when his oldest son, Joe Andrew, became the chairman of the Democratic National Committee under President Clinton, after serving as the chairman of Indiana Democratic Party under Governors Bayh and O'Bannon.
He was a 1935 graduate of South Side High School, Fort Wayne. He received his undergraduate and medical degree from Indiana University. He was board certified in family medicine and geriatrics.
He was a member of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Parish, Syracuse.
Also surviving are his children: Joe, John, Barbara, David and Victoria Andrew; and nine grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. A mass will be held in Syracuse at a later date.
Calling is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Klaehn Fahl & Melton Funeral Home, 420 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne.
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Memorials to the National Parkinson's Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
