Gerald M. "Jerry" Dodd

Gerald M. "Jerry" Dodd
Resident of Danville, California
December 12, 1931 to December 9, 2017

On Saturday night, Gerald Marion Dodd, passed from this life into the eternal one after a courageous and lengthy struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Jerry was born in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to California with his parents, three brothers and sister when he was 12 years old. He graduated from Downey High School and began his university education at UCLA. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served honorably as an M.P. After finishing his military service, he completed his education at UCLA where he earned both his B.A. in English and a Masters in Education. Jerry had a distinguished career as a teacher and later as an administrator for the Los Angeles Unified School District. During his 40-year career in education he was principal at Markham Junior High, Paul Revere Junior High and Palisades High School. He retired at age 60 from LAUSD and immediately embarked on his quest for a law degree. In 1998 he earned his J.D. degree from the University of West Los Angeles and was admitted to the bar in December of that year. He then began a prestigious career as an immigration lawyer, counselor and advocate. His professional life was marked by 60 years of striving for and achieving undiluted excellence.

He died as he lived; with courage, dignity and peace with the world and the people around him. A lot of men do the right things for the wrong reasons. Jerry Dodd always did the right things for the right reasons. None who knew him could avoid being positively influenced by him. In his personal life, he was surrounded by family and friends who reflected back to him what he so selflessly gave - devotion, time, respect and unconditional love. He will be missed by all who knew him, but none more profoundly than his soul-mate and wife, Carol Dodd, of Danville, his children John and Carla Dodd of Martinez, and his grandchildren Abigail and Phoebe Dodd.

The family wishes to thank Bette Birbaum, Debbie Jimenez, and Beth Logan of Hospice of the East Bay for their support and guidance and Ricky Lucio, his extraordinary caregiver, for his care and friendship.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of his life on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Oakmont Memorial Park & Mortuary at 2009 Reliez Valley Road in Lafayette, California.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Brain Support Network or the Parkinson's Association at https://makeagift.stanford.edu Select "Stanford Medicine" from the drop down menu and write in "Brain Support Network" or "Parkinson's Association" in the box that appears.

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