Dr. Ronald E. Gress

Dr. Ronald Eugene Gress, 76, of Albion, NE, and Phoenix, AZ, passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Chandler Regional Medical Center in Chandler, AZ, surrounded by family.

He will be buried in St. Edward, Nebraska, at a family service and will also have a memorial service in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The memorial service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 16 Kent Gardens Circle, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, on September 19, 2026, at 11:00 AM EST.

Below is a link for donations to the National Marrow Donor Program to honor the legacy of Dr. Ronald Eugene Gress.

National Marrow Donor Program 

Dr. Ronald Gress was born on December 5, 1949, in Albion, Nebraska, to Gerald Eugene Gress and Berniece Gress. Dr. Gress grew up on a family farm, where he developed a love for farming and nature. He graduated at the top of his class from Boone Central High School in 1968.

Dr. Gress received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Creighton University and his M.D., with honors, from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency and oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he later served as assistant professor of medicine and assistant chief of service for the Osler Medical Service. It was also at Johns Hopkins that he met his wife, Janet, who was the head nurse of Oncology, and they began their 45-year journey together. He joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Immunology Branch in 1979. In 1988, Dr. Gress was one of the founding members of the Experimental Immunology Branch and became Chief of its Transplantation Immunology Section. He was appointed Chief of the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch in 2000 and became a CCR Deputy Director of the Center for Cancer Research in 2010. He retired from NCI in 2022.

In addition to his own scientific contributions, Dr. Gress was a beloved mentor to dozens of trainees over the course of his career and fostered scientific growth through them and their future endeavors. Dr. Gress was an exceptional physician known for his devotion to the patients under his care and for his embodiment of the highest moral and ethical standards of personal and professional conduct.

For all his professional accomplishments, Ron’s greatest joy and priority was his family. He was a devoted husband and compassionate father who loved each of his three children—Jenna, Matthew, and Nathanael—deeply. He selflessly gave to his family, whether it was learning to cook delicious meals with goods from his garden, attending wrestling meets, helping foster career paths, wedding dress shopping, or simply offering advice. He was always there. There are no words to describe the impact and the empty gap he leaves in their lives.

As his family grew, so did his joy. Ron treasured being “Papa” to his grandchildren and made every effort to spend meaningful time with them. Following his retirement, he and Janet began splitting their time in Arizona to be closer to his children and grandchildren. In his final years, whenever he was asked how he wanted to spend his time, he would reply, “with family.” He and Janet visited Oregon, were able to attend Nathanael’s wedding, and traveled to Europe to see farms in Germany with Jenna and her family. He always chose to invest his time where his heart had always been. His greatest legacy will not only be found in medicine and science but also in the family he loved so completely.

Ron also enjoyed various hobbies that aligned with his values of service and appreciating life. He was an avid reader, farmer, gardener, and fisherman, and a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. Known for reading thousands of books throughout his life, Ron enjoyed discussing any story he was reading. He also loved gardening and freely shared his harvest with friends and neighbors. He also planted over 1,000 trees on the family farm within a short time frame and always believed you should leave things better than you found them. He maintained his family farm alongside his brother, honoring their parents’ wishes. Growing up on a farm gave him a strong work ethic and identity which kept him grounded throughout his life.

Ron continued to serve and care for others outside his profession through church service and leadership. He had a deep passion for all life and found purpose in serving others. He will be remembered for the mentorship he provided to countless young people in the Washington, D.C., area. He always offered a helping hand and never sought a reward for his kindness. He viewed service as a sacred opportunity and seldom told anyone about the work he did for others. Ron believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and knew that all of God’s children needed service and compassion. He will be deeply missed by the thousands of lives he touched through science, medicine, church, and community service.

Ron is survived by his wife, Janet Marsden Salisbury Gress, who will remember him as “her Ronnie.” He is also survived by his three children: Jenna Lyn Gress Smith (Phoenix, AZ), Matthew Eugene Gress (Eugene, OR), and Nathanael Marsden Gress (Arlington, VA), who will treasure him as their dad. He will also be remembered through his grandchildren: Josephine Brynn Smith, Madeleine Claire Smith, Anna Helena Gress, Jane Amelia Gress, and Samuel Eugene Gress, who will simply remember him as their kind, loving Papa.