Gretchen Weeden Panuzio

Gretchen Weeden Panuzio, 74, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2017, at her home, after a long battle with Carcinoid Cancer. Her husband, Nicholas, and family were at her side. She was born to William C. and Frances Weeden on April 13, 1942, in Fort Worth, TX, and never forgot her Texas roots and occasionally a slang Texas accent would be spoken. After attending Fort Worth schools, she graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor's in Education. She taught high school English both in Fort Worth and in Denver, CO. She relocated to Denver with her husband and raised two children as a stay-at-home mom. Always anxious to do more, she became active in Republican State Politics, catching the eye of the Coors family. Gretchen was the first women hired by Coors to become a lobbyist for the company. She rose in the ranks quickly and soon was managing thirteen Mid-West states for Coors, and leading the fight for glass bottle bills. Gretchen went on to form her first company doing public affairs work in Colorado while continuing to raise a family and earn a Master Degree in Public Affairs. She also directed small plays and programs for a Colorado television station. While attending conferences in Washington, DC, she fell in love with the city and was appointed by President George H. W. Bush to the Agriculture Department as Director of Program and Planning. Always looking for new challenges, Gretchen was a part of the team to work in a number of agencies for the United Giving Program for the Federal Government. This program supported the United Fund program and raised funds for many charities. Gretchen left the government and began a career in real estate in Northern Virginia. She was the realtor for Centex Homes in many of their developments. Testifying before Congress about women’s issues, especially Osteoporosis of which she had early symptoms, was Gretchen’s next focus. She was noticed by Merck Drug Company and hired by Merck to be the national spokeswoman for their new drug Fosamax which rebuilt bones in women. After four years, she finished her career by working as the Director of Government Affairs for the Mid Shore Board of Realtors retiring last October after 13 years. The real joy of Gretchen was her incredible love of people. She never hung up a telephone or left a person without asking if there was anything she could for them. Gretchen was always positive as she faced her life and illness. Going through many operations, she always thought there was a way to improve. She always wanted to be a part of research so that others would gain from what she did. She treated each person as her friend regardless of who they were. Her love was for family, her husband, her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. If you were her friend and everyone was her friend, she loved you. No one ever spoke with Gretchen without feeling better than before. You never left Gretchen without a feeling that you could do better with your situation and there was always advice. Her Nanna Camps became a joy for the grandchildren here on the Eastern Shore where they came to play and have fun. She was an amazing woman, always smiling and enjoying life. Two of the grandchildren came to the camp every summer. It was her joy. Gretchen is survived by her husband, Nicholas; her son, Garrett Gunter and his wife Debbie of Missoula, MT; her daughter, Holli Hayes of Alexandria, VA; her stepdaughter, Susan and her husband Joseph Underwood of Fairfax, VA; her stepson Nicholas Panuzio of Lorton, VA; and her stepson Thomas Panuzio of Salt Lake, UT. The joys of her life were her grandchildren, Matthew Underwood and his wife Ashley of Newport News, VA, Michael Underwood of Coraopolis, PA; Jack Gunter and his fiancé Cali Heuer of Denver, CO; Luke Gunter of Missoula, MT; Anthony Panuzio and Christopher Panuzio of Salt Lake City, UT; Mackenzie Vogel and Reid Panuzio of Lorton, VA; Collin Hayes and Riley Hayes of Alexandria, VA. She had a special joy for Reba Underwood and Beau Gunter, her great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in St. Michaels, MD, on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Carcinoid Cancer Foundation, 333 Mamaroneck Avenue #492, White Plains, NY 10605 or The General Perry Benson Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 8834 Round House Circle, Easton, MD 21601-7901.

Gretchen Weeden Panuzio

April 13, 1942 - February 24, 2017