Gerald B. Richards

Gerald B. (Jerry) Richards, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2024, at the age of 81, surrounded by family at his home in Laurel, MD.

Born on March 25, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, Jerry was the son of Leslie and Peggy Richards. He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a BS in Photography in 1966 and an MS in Education in 1967.  He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Mu National Honor Society, recognized for excellence in the field of photo journalism, and Phi Delta Kappa, an international professional fraternity of educators.  In 2005 he received the Alumni Achievement Award from SIU’s College of Education and Human Services.

Jerry met the love of his life, Paulette, through the union in marriage of Jerry’s lifelong friend Mel to Paulette’s sister Barbara. After a short period of dating, they married in 1968 and grew a family to include two sons, Troy and Brian, and a daughter, Kara.

Jerry began his professional career as the Public Relations and Safety Representative of Country Companies Insurance, giving safety education presentations throughout his assigned territories. In a conversation held with a friend, Jerry learned that the FBI was recruiting and so he took a chance and applied. Jerry felt it was a long shot, but in the end, he was accepted and would create a well-established career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Jerry was a Special Agent with the FBI for 23 years until his retirement at the end of 1993. While in the FBI he was assigned as an investigator in the Atlanta and Baltimore Divisions eventually making a permanent move to the FBI Laboratory at Headquarters in Washington, DC. Here he acquired three areas of expertise: Questioned Document Examination, Photographic Examination, and Espionage Tradecraft.  He was promoted to Chief of the Document Operations and Research Unit and later the Special Photographic Unit. As a result of his research and work on numerous espionage cases, in 1991 he received the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement from the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and National Foreign Intelligence Community. After retiring from the FBI Jerry founded Richards’ Forensic Services, and for the next 21 years, assisted in numerous civil and criminal cases throughout the world until his second retirement in 2014. A number of the cases he worked, and/or testified in, have been high-profile matters, such as the John Walker and Jerry Whitworth espionage case, the Rick Ames espionage case, the O.J. Simpson civil case, the JFK/Marilyn Monroe forgery case, the Twilight Zone (the movie) case, and many others.  For over 15 years he was an adjunct professor at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and Oklahoma State University, teaching graduate-level forensic courses.

Jerry maintained lifelong friendships established in his adolescence, developed friendships through his career and his 51 years in the neighborhood he called home, and through multiple hobbies and organizations he took part in; a number of these friends have grown to become family. He was well known for his quick unassuming wit, signature phrases, and willingness to sit and chat about anything and everything. He was the “go-to” when life got rough, the comfort when one needed clarity. At 6’6”, “Big Jer” took on an intimidating stature, and certainly maintained a composure of strength, but it wouldn’t be long before one saw his gentle compassionate, caring ways - he was someone you could count on to provide sound advice, and he was always willing to share a favorite cookie from his hidden stash when you needed it.

Jerry was involved in several techie hobbies.  He spent time dabbling with amateur radio (W3GBR) and genealogy, but his greatest passion was that of model airplanes and drones. Jerry joined the Howard County Radio Control Club in 1985 as a fledgling pilot, becoming a competent flier in short order, and eventually taking on the role of Vice President. After a series of difficulties surrounding field use, he and close friends took it upon themselves to seek out and renovate a parcel of land near Laurel, MD to create a more permanent space for their fellow fliers to enjoy. This field became the home of the newly named Freestate RC Club and provided hours of enjoyment for Jerry for the remainder of his days.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Paulette, sons Troy (wife Amy), and Brian (wife Danielle), daughter, Kara, grandchildren Kyle, Emma, Evan, Brendan, Emily, and Ava, and sister, Jeanne, as well as many very special in-laws, nieces, and nephews in his hometown of Chicago, IL. Jerry was predeceased by his father Leslie Richards, and his mother Margaret “Peggy” Richards.

Please join us in celebrating Jerry’s life on Saturday, May 4th at Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Avenue Rt 198 West, Laurel, MD, 20707. Please see service times designated below. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8389562&fr_id=154020&pg=personal or https://bcan.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate/

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