Gerard (Gerry) Evans

October 17, 1934 - December 22, 2023

Gerry Evans died early December 22 resulting from Covid complications.

Gerry Evans was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and lived on Kauai. At age eight, his family moved to San Francisco. He had very happy memories of living on Kauai, especially not having to wear shoes!

Gerry attended St. Peter and Paul elementary school and went on to graduate from Sacred Heart High School before joining the Navy in 1952, serving four years on the USS Ashtabula AO51. He played basketball there and said those were some of the most fun years of his life.

He entered the San Francisco Police Department in 1959, serving for 30 years. He retired as a Sergent Inspector in the Burglary division. He loved being a San Francisco Police officer and was very proud of his work there and he had a lot of fun. He used to say if he wrote a book about his time in the PD the title would have to be: “If the radio car could talk, I’d have to shoot it” He received numerous Awards of Valor for his police work. He was especially good at catching bank robbers!

While serving in the police department, he was also Director of Security for the Cannery for many years. He used to joke it was the longest moonlight job in history. He had a deep friendship with the Martin family who owned the Cannery.

After retiring from the SFPD, Gerry went on to work 14 years for the State of California as an investigator first for the Industrial Medical Council and then as an investigator of the California State Lottery.

He was known for always being present at his children’s sports events and practices at El Camino

High School and Serra High School. He coached Sean at St. Veronica School for basketball. He was always filming every sports event for the children and all the family events. He was proud to pin the police star on his son, Sean, who followed in his footsteps and is part of the South San Francisco Police Department.

He was an avid racehorse enthusiast, owning several racehorses (but as he said, never winning much money!) He loved talking to his brother, Tom on a Saturday about upcoming races. Family gatherings at his sister, Gloria and husband, Daryle’s home was something he always enjoyed and looked forward to.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rosemarie; his sister, Adrienne Richwood; and his brother, David Evans. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Michele Donnelly Evans; his sister, Gloria Evans of Spokane, Wash.; his brother, Tom Evans of Coeur d’ Alane, Idaho; his children, Sean, Michael, Mark, and Denise Evans; as well as his nephews, nieces and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for January 19, 2024, at 11:00 at Garden Chapel, 885 El Camino Real, South San Francisco with a celebration following at the Basque Cultural Center at 599 Railroad, South San Francisco.