Planned Parenthood was grieved to lose its good friend Gerald Robert "Jerry" Pearsall in June 2009, at the age of 83. Mr. Pearsall was a lifelong Michigan resident, though he traveled all over the world throughout his lifetime. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, traveling to Japan at the end of World War II, which helped to ignite his love of travel. He then became a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry for 15 years, earning several patents along the
way, before retiring and giving his other interests full rein.

Those interests were many and varied. Mr. Pearsall visited more than 100 countries during his lifetime. He loved spending time in the outdoors, square dancing (which he pursued for more than 50 years), and looking after a long series of cars and cats with equal care. Most of all, he loved his two wonderful and caring wives: first the late Beverly Demers, and then Linda Byrne Pearsall, who survives him along with their warm extended family.

Mr. Pearsall had notified us that he had included PPFA in his estate plans, and he kindly agreed to become a member of our Legacy

"I share with Planned Parenthood the belief that all children should be wanted and loved. What better reason to lend my support?" — Gerald R. "Jerry" Pearsall, quoted in the Planned Parenthood Federation of America 2006-2007 Annual Report

Society as a result. We had the good fortune to pay him a personal visit in 2007, when we met his beloved Timmy (pictured above with Mr. Pearsall) and Ebony, a pair of happy and extremely outgoing cats who clearly thrived on the attention they received. Mr. Pearsall was a very gentle and solicitous "cat person" who knew quite a bit about the feline personality and had owned (or, been owned by) many cats during his lifetime.  He was a generous, welcoming host and a warm, lovely man. We had hoped to visit him again and are very sad to lose the opportunity of spending more time with him.

We are deeply grateful to have been remembered in Mr. Pearsall's estate plans, and we truly
appreciate having had the chance to thank him for his thoughtfulness while he was still with
us. It is a measure of Mr. Pearsall's openness of spirit that he remembered Planned
Parenthood affiliates in both Colorado and Michigan, as well as our national office and the
International Planned Parenthood Federation for our work throughout this country and
internationally. On behalf of all four organizations, we have pledged to his family that we will
use his bequest carefully to protect reproductive rights and family planning services.

Mr. Pearsall believed strongly in the work of Planned Parenthood, and we have been proud to
call him our friend.

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