Obituary of Gerald Louis DeNardo

A well-loved husband, father, brother, colleague and friend, Gerald DeNardo passed away peacefully at his home in Lincoln, California on February 11, 2024, from a progressive neurological disease (PSP). He will always be remembered as someone who enthusiastically committed himself to his family and his profession in science and medicine.

Gerry was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, first son of Louis and Josephine DeNardo. When he was twelve years old his family moved to California where he graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory, attended Santa Clara University as a pre-medical student, and received a Doctor of Medicine from UCSF School of Medicine.

He served in the Army as a Physician from 1957-1965 and retired as a Major to join the faculty of Stanford University School of Medicine.  In 1970 he became Professor of Radiology, Internal Medicine and Pathology at the new UC Davis School of Medicine and was the Founding Chair of Nuclear Medicine.

Gerry led an internationally recognized research team developing targeted therapies for oncology patients for which he and his wife, Sally, received the Benedict Cassen Prize in 2000, considered the “Nobel Prize of Nuclear Medicine”.

He is preceded in death by his parents Louis and Josephine DeNardo, his son Michael, his nephew Matthew Coffelt and his son-in-law Larry Mahoney.

Gerry is survived by his loving wife of fifty two years, Sally, his children: Daniel DeNardo (Rebecca), Patti DeNardo Jensen (Tom Barrera), Diane Mahoney, Joan Menees (Jim), James DeNardo (Gina), Peter DeNardo (Evelyn), Susan DeNardo (Norman Gonzales), and David DeNardo (Julie), fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Marlene DeNardo, Gene DeNardo (Lynn Hamers), and Mary Lou Coffelt (Bob).

Services will be held at St. Joseph Church, Lincoln, CA on February 23, 2024, at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider donating to a charity of your choice.