Gerald Dale Boyd, 90, of Anacortes, Washington, passed away on August 6, 2026, at Kayden’s Loving Care in Mount Vernon, Washington.

Born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on October 15, 1935, to Richard F. Boyd and Elizabeth Aurand, Gerald served his country with distinction in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1976. He retired as a Master Sergeant and was honorably discharged. Following his military service, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Gerald then turned his lifelong interest in wine into a distinguished career in journalism and education. His first published article on wine appeared in Denver City Magazine. Robert Morrisey, the founder of Wine Spectator, sold the magazine to New York publisher Marvin R. Shanken, Gerald was hired as managing editor and later advanced to editor of The Wine Spectator, serving in those roles from 1979 to 1983 in San Francisco, California.

He went on to freelance for various publications and became a respected wine judge and industry leader whose work took him around the world. Gerald served as Co-Chairman of the Wine Industry Integrity Award Program in Lodi, California; Chairman of the Alameda County Fair Wine Competition; and, with Steve Mirassou, co-founded The Gold Challenge Wine Competition at The Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, California. He was a frequent speaker and panelist at the Kapalua Wine Symposium in Kapalua, Hawaii, and the Monterey Bay Wine Competition in Monterey, California. A longtime contributor to Wine Review Online, he also served as staff wine columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Gerald taught Wine Studies as an adjunct professor at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California, for 13 years. In 2011 he was inducted into the Wine Writers Hall of Fame by the Wine Media Guild of New York. After relocating to Anacortes in 2018, he continued sharing his passion through a weekly wine blog that he maintained until January 2026.

Gerald’s love of classical music was a constant joy; one he shared with his wife Janet on Sunday afternoons watching concerts together. Above all, he cherished his family and his country.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Janet Mary (Boyle) Boyd, whom he married on May 3, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (they met through her brother Gene while the two men were in Air Force boot camp); sons Mark G. Boyd (Kimberley) and Sean T. Boyd (Kristin); grandchildren Brandon (Tisa), Jeremy, Aaron (Naomi), and Cameron; and one great-grandson, Phoenix. Numerous nieces and nephews. Brothers-in-law Eugene Boyle (Loretta) and James Boyle (Diana). Nephews Richard Boyd (Cheryl) and Kenneth Boyd (Kathy). Also, lifelong friend Richard Marschner (Wiley). He was preceded in death by his son Kevin P. Boyd (Colleen) and his brother Richard Boyd Jr.

A funeral service with full military honors will be held at Evans Funeral Chapel in Anacortes on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or at St. Jude’s.

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