Jerry Lampson

The Huntington’s Disease community lost one of its greatest warriors with the passing of Gerald (Jerry) Lampson on May 31, 2004, after a short battle with cancer. Jerry was the founder and webmaster for the Huntington’s Disease Lighthouse, one of the earliest and most influential HD websites.

The rose that represented Peg - Jerrys wife who died from HD

The Huntington’s Disease community lost one of its greatest warriors with the passing of Gerald (Jerry) Lampson on May 31, 2004, after a short battle with cancer. Jerry was the founder and webmaster for the Huntington’s Disease Lighthouse, one of the earliest and most influential HD websites. He believed that hope, as well as exercise, spirituality, and diet were the keys to living positively and proactively with Huntington’s Disease. Most importantly, he believed in knowledge. He spent much time searching out and posting information about Huntington’s Disease so his readers could make informed decisions about what they could do now to remain healthy.

He started the Lighthouse in 1997 to have a permanent place for the information he was finding and sharing with the staff at his wife’s nursing home and his ‘family’ on the Hunt-Dis list. He was astonished at how important the site quickly became throughout the entire HD community and never fully understood how much he had contributed to the development of the online community itself as well as its members’ positive attitude towards living with the disease.

A very private person, Jerry did not want anyone to know that he was ill because he never wanted the focus to be on him but rather on the Huntington’s Disease cause. Nevertheless, he knew his friends at the Lighthouse and on the lists were worried about him and he was warmed by their love and concern.

Jerry was born in Sacramento, California on July 8, 1933. An engaging child, he was entered into a baby contest by his mother and holds the title of ‘Baby Prince of Sacramento County.’

From 19952-55, Jerry served in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1959 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. From 1959-1961 he was a member of the technical staff at AT&T Research in New Jersey and received his Master’s in Electrical Engineering at New York University in 1961.

Returning from the East Coast to the West, Jerry then worked as a design engineer for McDonnell Douglas in LA from 1961-64 and chief engineer for 3M Instrumentation in Camarillo from 1964-66. From 1966 through 1974, he was the co-founder and chief electrical engineer for Data Science Corporation. He was chief engineer for Borg Warner from 1974-1976. He was co-founder and chief electrical engineer for Novatek from 1976 - 2004.

Jerry’s career in electrical engineering was indeed very successful but the Berkeley emphasis on social activism must have remained with him as well. Once his beloved wife Peggy was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease in 1986, he went into warrior and activist mode and never came out. His love and devotion to Peg was an inspiration to all of us. Jerry lost Peg on April 1, 2000, but carried on his HD work in her memory and for the community.

Jerry’s interests were in the Internet, endurance sports, and his two dogs.

Jerry is survived by his stepson, Scott, and his best friend, Jan Jones. Jan was able to spend a week with Jerry shortly before he passed away and Scott was able to be there at the end. Jerry had recently moved to Idaho to be closer to Scott and hoped to discover new trails to wander. He remained cheerful and kept his sense of humor to the end. He instructed that he be cremated and his ashes scattered along a ‘nice trail.’ Jerry’s friends and extended family in the HD community will remember him for his tireless dedication, his happy warrior spirit, his love of a great debate, and his extraordinary success at getting HD information -- getting it right, getting it early and getting it out there.

Condolences should be sent to Scott and family, P.O. Box 100, Osburn, ID 83849, or e-mailed to scottandjeri@usamedia.tv . Contributions in his memory can be sent to The Huntington's Disease Drug Works at 17171 Bothell Way, PMB 148, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

The Lighthouse will continue in one form or another and information will be forthcoming soon. As Jerry has requested, keep the beacon on and the light of hope burning!