George Frank Gjerset

George F. Gjerset, M.D., age 66, of Shoreline, WA, died unexpectedly on March 6, 2018. His family was by his side. George was a proud but private cancer survivor, in good health with no trace of cancer when he underwent a surgical intestinal repair and experienced sudden complications from surgery. George was a medical oncologist and partner with North Puget Oncology, serving the Skagit Valley and Anacortes communities. As a colleague, he was highly respected. As a physician, he was a fierce patient advocate, who dedicated his practice to curing cancer, or short of that, providing the best possible outcome and hope for each person. His tenacious, kind, and compassionate spirit will be missed by all who had the opportunity and privilege to get to know him. George was dedicated to working for his patients; his care for them was deeply purposeful. He had no intention of retiring because his work was challenging, engaging, and a meaningful part of his life. He enjoyed and valued the unique life experiences of each patient and drew inspiration from them. He was a creative and gifted artist; his drawings encouraged patients to adorn the walls in his office with their own handmade expressions of thanks. He treasured cards and books he acquired that patients had authored. Over the years, George gathered a large collection of exquisitely painted stones brought by an artist each time she saw him for treatment. Occasionally, he would bring home with a smile a special piece of fruit that was given to him each visit by another patient who must have realized how much this human connection meant to George. His medical assistant wrote, “The hours in a day were too short for all he wanted to accomplish. I think if he had a free weekend, he would have invented a way for the sun to rotate slower and add more time to each day.” George had a vast array of knowledge about many things, largely because of his intense curiosity and interest in talking with people. He could cleverly engineer ways to make household repairs even if he needed to create the parts himself, he collected old typewriters, and he celebrated when his diesel Mercedes (bought new in 1999 in Germany) turned 400,000 miles last year. He was sentimental and had a quick, clever sense of humor. He pushed time commitments and worries aside when family or a friend needed help or wanted to share in his love of play and creativity. He tutored his sons, a nephew, and young friends in calculus into the wee hours of the night, inspiring them with his enthusiasm for math as a language for solving puzzles. He humbly provided steady, wise advice. He loved hiking with family to high points with spectacular views. San Diego and Norway, both places of family origin, were favorite destinations. Above all, his family was important to him and he was unwavering in his care and love. George was born in Weymouth, MA, to Stefani and Oswald Gjerset on January 31, 1952. He grew up in San Diego, where his friendship with Jan Hastings, whom he met at UC San Diego, became a lifelong romance and marriage lasting 38 years. Their son Jonathan was born in 1989 followed by Paul in 1991. Jan and Jonathan are grateful for the love and support they shared with George after they faced a profound loss when Paul died at age 21 in 2013. Paul was also a most compassionate, sensitive, creative, witty and kind soul. As a student at the University of Arizona, he was successful in his studies while also working as a chef. His wisdom is part of the fabric of their lives. George started medical school at UCLA and completed his M.D. degree at UCSD so he could be closer to Jan, who was then in graduate school. After completing his residency in internal medicine, they traveled, hiked and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. In 1981 they moved to Seattle for his fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center followed by a position as a Clinical Assistant Professor at UW. Always inventive and curious, he envisioned a career in research but discovered he had an overriding passion for direct patient care and was associated with North Puget Oncology for over 20 years. George is survived by his wife, Janis Hastings, son Jonathan Hastings Gjerset; sister Ruth Gjerset and her son Emmanuel Parello; brother John Gjerset and sister-in-law Susan and their children, Peter and Alex; sister-in-law Marla Hastings and brother-in-law David Boyd and their daughters Maddie Boyd, Kelsey Maldonado and her wife Alicia, and Carla Terre and her husband Dan, mother-in-law, Euretta (Widgie) Hastings and many other loving extended family and friends. There was a private family service and burial on March 10, 2018, and the family is grateful to their dear friend, The Rev. Susan Cyr, for conducting the service and for her compassionate words. A Celebration of Life / Memorial Service will be held on august 26, 2018 in the Edmonds Plaza Room (above Edmonds Library) 650 Main Street in Edmonds, WA. Please share memories there at: http://www.beckstributecenter.com/obituaries Donations can be made in George’s memory to one of these organizations that were most special to him: Island Hospital Foundation: www.islandhospitalfoundation.org, which supports the independent, publicly funded hospital where George was an integral part of the Cancer Care Center, or The Compassionate Friends (TCF), www.compassionatefriends.org (please add in comments that your contribution is for TCF Eastside, Kirkland, WA).