Kate Szuberla Jauch, a native of Scotia, New York and a resident of Poolesville, Maryland, passed away on December 14, 2022, from complications related to leukemia. 

 

Kate Jauch lived a life of impact. She was all-in on whatever lay ahead, wielding a wide smile, deep compassion, wicked humor, immense courage, and a fierce sense of justice and purpose to improve people’s days and lives—at home, in the workplace, and in the community. 

 

She was a 1996 graduate of Scotia-Glenville High School, a three-season athlete and captain of the field hockey team. In 2000, she graduated from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She subsequently worked in Labor & Delivery at the MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland; Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.; and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

 

Kate was always, at heart, an educator. As a nurse, she taught women and mothers. As a patient, she used her illness to educate the next generation of healthcare providers. She was one of the first advocacy ambassadors for “Be the Match,” a program managed by the National Marrow Donor Program. She carefully and often humorously chronicled her own illness (including her own bone marrow transplants), always with the hope of helping others who might face the same challenge.

 

No one benefitted more from Kate’s passion for life than her family; nothing inspired her more than her husband Scott and their three children, Andrew, Will, and Greta. She is also survived by her parents Charles and Marianne Szuberla, of Brunswick, MD, a slew of cousins, aunts, and uncles, and her Godparents, Gail and Lou Meagley of Altamont, NY (the embodiment of what Godparents can be).  

 

A viewing will be held on Monday, December 19, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at the Hilton Funeral Home, 22111 Beallsville Road, Barnesville, MD, 20838. A service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20, at Grace Episcopal Church, 114 East A. Street, Brunswick, MD, 21716. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Be the Match (https://wesavelives.bethematch.org/participant/KateJauch) or Planned Parenthood (www.plannedparenthood.org).  And please consider joining the Be the Match registry, the greatest of all gifts.

Donald Eugene Brooks, 96, of Gaithersburg, MD, passed away on December 19, 2022.

He was the loving husband to Eva Roberson Brooks.

Born on November 3, 1926 in Poolesville, MD, he was the son of the late James Evan Brooks and Anna Titus Brooks. 

Along with his wife, Donald is survived by his three children; Donna Brooks Sensoy, Don Michael Brooks, wife Sharon, Lisa Brooks Hammond, 8 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

He began his career with the Montgomery County Police Department in 1950 rising through the ranks until his retirement in 1991 as Chief of Police.   In 1988 he and co-author Charles A Federline published “A Worthy Innovation” A History of the Montgomery County Police Department 1922-1987.  This book was dedicated to the men and women who served Montgomery County as police officers and the civilian staff who supported them.  This work was one of his proudest achievements.  He was also an avid quail hunter and dog trainer and spent many happy days in the fields with his many friends.

His family and numerous grand and great-grandchildren were a source of pride and delight.  He thought each and all were beautiful, smart and precious.  His was a life well lived.

The family will be receiving friends on Tuesday, December 27th from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church, 17821 Elgin Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837 where a funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at Monocacy Cemetery 19801 W Hunter Rd, Beallsville, MD 20839. 

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Donald’s memory to Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church, http://www.pmumc.org/. 

Mary Docia (Gilliam) Hurley, July 22, 1939 – December 28, 2022             

If you knew her from childhood, she was Mary but since her days in college at Frostburg University, she has been known as Dody to her friends. 

Dody’s life took her from birth in a small town in North Carolina, to living most of her life in Montgomery County, Maryland. She graduated from Gaithersburg High School and attended Frostburg. She later graduated from University of Maryland, University College in 1985. At various times, she was passionate about sewing, puzzles, golf, reading, and building things. Her professional life included working for Irving Gue Construction, Montgomery County Public Schools, and AERG. But her primary career, as she always said, was with her family; she was devoted to her children and grandchildren.

She loved nature, especially the woods and the ocean, and lived at her wooded home in Gaithersburg until her death.  

Predeceased by her parents, Rufus and Flora Gilliam, and her husband, Gerard Francis “Jerry” Hurley, Dody is survived by her daughters Jeanine Hurley and Diane Hurley Jordan, her son-in-law Ted Jordan, her grandchildren Kyle Jordan and his wife Bridget, Jessica Jordan and her fiancée Jacob; her two brothers James Gilliam and his wife Linda, and Randy Gilliam and his wife Sandy; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all.

No services are planned at this time; a private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org.

Leo Joseph Bassett Sr. of Deale, MD died peacefully December 31, 2022 aged 88. Leo was born June 6th, 1934 in Washington DC to George and Mary Bassett. 

Upon graduating high school he attended Corcoran School of the Arts & Design in Washington DC. In 1957 he was drafted into the Marine Corps where he spent two years as an Illustrator.

Leo’s green thumb, eye for design and artistic talents were reflected in his many projects throughout the years.

In Washington D.C. he established Colonial Flower and Garden and The Green House. Other of Leo’s notable works includes landscape design at Roosevelt Island, The Kennedy Center and The National Zoo’s Panda House. Leo’s floral and landscape designs were admired by many over the years at Clyde’s Restaurants throughout the DC area. In the late 90's Leo ventured into the restaurant business and will be fondly remembered by many in the town of Poolesville as the owner/operator of Bassett’s restaurant.

Leo’s love for restoring homes kept him very busy both in Poolesville and later after retirement in Deale, MD.

He is survived by his sister Joan Ross, his children Leo Bassett Jr. and partner

Karyn Seymour, daughter Victoria Clyne and husband Ken Clyne as well as his grand-children Caroline and Eric and his late-wife Betty’s sons Brian and Mark Dawson.

Leo was preceded in death by his daughter Maria Bassett, wife Elizabeth Bassett and brothers George and James Bassett.

The family will be receiving friends at Hilton Funeral Home, 22111 Beallsville Road, Barnesville, MD, on Thursday, January 5th from 6:00-8:00 PM. Graveside service is private. Leo’s final resting place will be with his wife Elizabeth at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD.