A longtime UNMC faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology, Gerald Christensen, M.D., died at his home in Omaha Saturday after a four-year battle with bladder cancer. He was 83.
Memorial service details
A visitation will be held for Dr. Christensen from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries & Crematory, 7805 W. Center Rd.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Magdalene, 109 S. 19th St. The celebrant for the service will be Msgr. James Gilg, who is Haven’s brother.
Memorials should be directed to the Dr. Gerald R. Christensen Weigel Williamson Center Support Fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation or to the Bert and Emelyn Christensen Professor Endowment in the College of Science through the Oregon State University Foundations.
A native of Corvallis, Ore., Dr. Christensen earned his undergraduate degree from Oregon State University and his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland. His father, Bert Christensen, Ph.D., was the longtime chair of the chemistry department at Oregon State.
Dr. Christensen began his association with UNMC in 1976 and completely retired this past July. He was director of the Eye Pathology Laboratory throughout his UNMC career and held the academic title of associate professor for many years. Since 2005, he had served as director of eye pathology and adjunct professor.
His interests were in teaching ocular pathology to students and residents, with a special emphasis on the relationship between pathological changes and the clinical presentation of disease processes. He read ophthalmic surgical tissue specimens and provided microscopic diagnoses back to ophthalmologists.
“Dr. Christensen was a model clinical pathologist and educator,” said James Gigantelli, M.D., acting chair of the UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and director of the Stanley E. Truhlsen Eye Institute. “His professional career was dedicated to service — service to his patients, his colleagues, his nation, and those he was entrusted to teach.”
In 2008, Dr. Christensen was one of the lead donors on the Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation on the UNMC campus at 38th Avenue and Jones Street. The center provides low-vision services to the region, with a goal of assisting people with low vision problems such as macular degeneration to gain — or regain — their independence and quality of life.
In 2000, he married Mary Haven, who served as associate dean of the School of Allied Health Professions for the final 12 years of her 38-year career at UNMC. It is now the College of Allied Health Professions.
“It was a good match,” Haven said. “He was a devoted father and husband. We had wonderful times together. He was always very supportive of all his families’ endeavors.”
The couple traveled extensively throughout their marriage, going to every continent except Antarctica.
Haven was always impressed by Dr. Christensen’s long list of friends. “Every friend he ever had, he kept his whole life,” she said. “He had friends going back to kindergarten.”
Dr. Christensen served as an ophthalmologist in the U.S. Navy for 35 years, reaching the rank of captain. His tours of duty took him around the world including the Persian Gulf, Yokosuka, Japan, the Naval Hospital in San Diego, and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
He was on the faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston from 1969-1975. He also was a clinical associate professor for Creighton University School of Medicine from 1977-1990 and for the VA Medical Center in Omaha from 1976-1990.
I was a very fortunate person to be able to work at UNMC Ophthalmology with Jerry Christensen over a 20-year span. He was a friend, a mentor and a go-to person for advice in so many areas. This morning as I watch the interview he did with Dr. Truhlsen two years ago, I am reminded of the wealth of department history they shared. They were collaborating on writing the history. The legacy he leaves on the many lives he touched is a gift we all share. My husband was also a Navy captain, so that's why I always called Jerry, "Captain." Fair winds and following seas, Captain!
Dr. Christensen was a wonderful person and an excellent ophthalmologist. Once he met you, he never forgot you. It was so great to see him enjoy his life with Mary at his side for so many years. He will be greatly missed. Deepest sympathies to the family.
I too was very fortunate to know and collaborate with Jerry. He wasn’t on campus more than 6 months before he contacted me and offered ideas associated with parking. His approach was “why not try it”? From that moment on we became friends. I found him to be a very caring and compassionate person.
He has left many legacies on this campus. Some well known by all and some known by only a few.
“He said….He did”. That was Jerry.
Anchors Away!
The Weigel Williamson Center may not have even been created if it had not been for the staunch support of Dr. Christensen. We were so grateful that he was able to attend our 10th anniversary celebration in September and even participate in the program!! We will greatly miss this loyal friend.
A great individual and a dedicated ophthalmologist!
Carol Russell
Very fortunate to have known Dr. Christensen from professional and personal interactions. I learned a great deal from him about ophthalmic pathology in our campus laboratory.
I can appreciate Mary's words about "every friend he ever had, he kept his whole life." Thank you Dr. Christensen for being my friend. I will never forget you.
My husband, Ray Jones, has always spoken with love and admiration of this man. We are so sorry to hear this news. Ray feels blessed to have known him and raised hogs with him!!!