Robert " Bob" Martin Werdig, Jr.

Robert M. Werdig, Jr., age 80 of Washington, DC and Owings, MD, passed on June 12, 2012 near his beloved Fortuitous Farm in Owings, MD. He was born in Washington, DC to Robert, Sr and Jennie Werdig and lived in DC most of his life.He graduated from Eastern High School. Then he went on to obtain his B.S. degree from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico and his Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University (GWU), Washington, DC. While studying for the DC bar, he clerked in the law offices of Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering. After passing the bar he clerked for Judge Edward A. Beard who was a member of the DC municipal court. After the clerkship he became an assistant Corporation Counsel in the criminal and civil divisions of the DC Corporation Counsel. Leaving the Corporation Counsel’s office, he was sworn in as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Court in the civil and criminal divisions where he served for several years. Afterwards he was corporate counsel for the DC Office of Welfare. He then formed his own law firm, Robbins & Werdig and practiced law in DC until a few years ago. Robert M. Werdig, Jr., was very organizationally active. While in college he joined Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity (TKE) and served in several offices and remained loyal to them both in Washington, DC and Albequerke, NM. For many years the TKE’s at GWU would hold the legendary “3 Fires” preinitiatory all-night celebration at the Farm in the back fields. The TKE’s would reciprocate by coming to the farm and doing “clean-up” type tasks.In the 80’s he joined the Masons and was a devoted member of Potomac Lodge #5 of Georgetown. He provided numerous picnics and outings for them at the Farm. He was Worshipful Master of the Potomac Lodge #5 in 1989. Shortly after becoming a Master Mason, he joined the DC Order of the Eastern Star, with his wife, Geri, and served as Worthy Patron of his DC chapter numerous times and was elected in 1994 as Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter, OES, DC and served with his Worthy Grand Matron, Ina Huie. With Geri, they also joined a Maryland Chapter of the OES, Silver Spring Chapter #66 and served as their Worthy Patron with Geri as Worthy Matron several times, as well as entertaining the chapter and other jurisdictions; especially West Virginia, on numerous occasions at the Farm.He and his wife, Geri, were very active members of the University of New Mexico alumni association of the metropolitan DC area. He and Geri hosted the annual UNM chili roast and taco picnic in September at the farm for over 40 years. Attendance at this event grew from under 50 at the start to over 400 people last year. It involved roasting about 1-2 tons of fresh chili flown in from New Mexico. Proceeds from this event were used for scholarships to the UNM. For this annual outing he and Geri received numerous awards including a large beautiful Indian bowl which Bob treasured. The UNM alumni also “christened” the large equipment building on the Farm, where the picnic was held, as the “Shed” with an appropriate sign which pleased Mr. Werdig.He was preceded in death by his parents, Jennie and Robert Werdig of Washington, DC. They both graduated from Gallaudet University. In honor of his mother and wife, he set up about 20 years ago, the Jennie and Geri Scholarship Fund at Gallaudet University and annually contributed to it, using the proceeds from his teaching of Business Law at Gallaudet for several years.At his passing he had been married to “Miz Geri” , formally Geraldine Windham of Bethesda/Edgemoor, MD., since December 15, 1956, almost 57 years.He is survived by his wife “Miz Geri” and cousins, Carolina Haynes Reynolds, James Merfa and Joe Hartsell and his beloved dog, Jody.Eastern Star Services will be held at 7:30 PM, followed by Masonic Services at 8:00PM. All are invited to attend. A funeral service and celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at 10:00AM, at All Saints Episcopal Church, in Sunderland, MD. Interment will be at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham.Memorial contributions may be made to the Jenny and Geri Scholarship Fund at Gallaudet University, in his name. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert " Bob" Martin Werdig, Jr. please visit our Sympathy Store.