Gerane Sever, resident at Ingleside at King Farm, was presented and accepted the Rotary International Service Award for a Polio-free World on behalf of her late husband, Dr. John Sever.
On August 22, Ingleside at King Farm (IKF) and board members from Rotary International, a nonprofit organization most known for its efforts in eradicating polio, gathered to commemorate the legacy of Dr. John Sever, a renowned infectious disease specialist and longtime Ingleside resident.
Dr. Sever, who died in April at the age of 92, worked as the Chief of the Infectious Disease Branch Laboratory of the Neurological Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for almost 30 years. He’s heavily championed for instigating and serving as the Vice Chairman of PolioPlus, a polio eradication program that saved millions around the world. In recognition of his commitment to the cause, he was honored with the International Service Award for a Polio-free World.
Dr. Sever’s wife Gerane, who’s also an Ingleside resident, received the award on his behalf.
“It is an honor,” Gerane said. “[John] was an inspiration to all of us and is beyond deserving of this accolade. His legacy and efforts towards eradicating polio will forever be remembered.”
Ingleside is proud of how many exceptional people who have done so much good for the world reside in their communities. The senior living community was honored to host Dr. Sever’s award ceremony to commemorate his efforts. Kenya Bryant, the Executive Director of IKF, said Dr. Sever’s unwavering dedication exemplifies true leadership — a quality that is across the board among Ingleside’s campuses.
“Across our communities, we honor and value residents who have dedicated their lives to helping others,” Bryant said.
Dr. Sever’s passion to help cure and prevent global health crises led him to an exemplary career — the scientific community remembers him as the “Father of the Polio Initiative.” Above all, Dr. Sever’s family describes him as a brilliant, true gentleman, an impressive traveler, and someone with an enormous heart and extreme love for his family.
Dr. Sever was a professor emeritus of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Children’s National Medical Center. He taught postgraduate education in infectious diseases and served on several institutional review boards. He was past president of the Teratology Society, the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists, Virology, the Pan American Group for Rapid Viral Diagnosis, and many other medical societies.
Dr. Sever is survived by his wife, Gerane, three daughters Kimberly, Beverly, and Valerie, and seven grandchildren.
To learn more about Ingleside communities and the organization’s commitment to excellence, please visit https://inglesideonline.org or call 301-499-9019.