Gerry Linz was a man of many interests and talents, both vocational and avocational. He was an electrical engineer, Episcopal priest, psychologist, instructor, cryptographer and fisherman. He touched many lives during his lifetime. The Rev. Dr. Gerhard David Linz, of Decatur, departed this life peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the age of 82. He was born on January 5, 1927 in Waltershausen, Germany to Leopold Linz and Ritta (Nussbaum) Linz, both of whom preceded him in death. Gerry came to the U.S. alone in 1936 as a 9-year-old refugee to live with his foster family, the Koppels of Albany, Ga. Eventually his parents and brother were able to join him. He completed high school in Albany and entered Georgia Tech at the age of 16. At 18 he joined the U.S. Army to serve his adopted country, where he was placed in radio school. At the end of the war Gerry returned to Georgia Tech where he completed his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering and was elected member of both Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. While at Georgia Tech, Gerry became a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, where he was known as the “Jewish Acolyte”. He converted to Christianity at the time he joined the Army. At a Young People’s Service League dance at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Gerry met Frances Ann Pierson. He was soon employed at RCA Laboratories and brought his new wife Fran to Princeton, N.J. He felt called to the ministry and studied at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Tex. He became Vicar at All Saints Church in Warner Robins and later, Associate Rector at Christ Church, Macon from 1956 to 1960. He then served as Chaplain of the University of Texas in Austin, where he earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology. He practiced at Michigan State University in East Lansing before returning to Atlanta in 1970. He served as the Associate Director of the Counseling Center at Georgia State University for many years until his retirement in 1993. Among his many honors and recognition, he was certified as a Diplomate in Counseling Psychology in 1980 and was named Distinguished Professor in 1984. Gerry continued his ministry, as well, serving many parishes throughout the Atlanta diocese, particularly St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. Gerry was a long-time member of the American Cryptogram Association. He took pride in solving all the ciphers in each bimonthly newsletter and wrote how-to articles for beginners. His “Novice Notes” columns became a staple in the newsletter and were compiled into a book by the ACA in 1990. He was an early hobbyist in the field of personal computers and was a student of computer-based cryptography analysis. The ACA awarded him The ACA Cherry Blossom Award for “outstanding contributions to the Association and the art of cryptography.” Gerry was particularly fond of salt-water fishing in his Boston Whaler. He loved reading, word play, classical music, good bourbon, ham radio, beekeeping, non-stop drives from Texas to Georgia (in a 1960 Beetle), and he could bake a mean cheesecake. He is survived by his wife, Fran, his four children: Chris Linz (Maggie) of Okemos, Mi., Michael Linz (Barbara Klapp) of Snellville, Stephanie Linz-Gould (Bill Gould Jr.) of Atlanta, and Peter Linz (Marlene) of Katonah, N.Y., 9 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, his brother, Dr. Werner Linz (Catherine) of LaGrange, and cousins, nieces, and nephews. A card-carrying member of the ACLU, he was a mensch -- a man of principle and righteousness. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 1790 LaVista Road, Atlanta, where he had been an assisting priest since 1970. The committal of his ashes in the parish's memorial garden will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, St. Bartholomew’s Church, or a charity of one’s own choosing. A. S.Turner & Sons
