Gary Gutcher Obituary

DR. GARY R. GUTCHER Dr. Gary R. Gutcher passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 24, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 80. Born November 5, 1944, in Honolulu, he was the son of Abigail and Robert Gutcher. A proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Stanford University, Gary served with the U.S. Peace Corps in Micronesia before beginning his medical studies at the University of Hawaii and receiving his MD from Johns Hopkins University. A board-certified neonatologist, Dr. Gutcher became Professor and Chairman of the Neonatology Division at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia. He cared for more than 9,000 premature infants, developed pioneering nutritional-dosage software, and led the design of an award-winning neonatal intensive care unit recognized for innovation and excellence. Gary will be remembered for his warmth, humor, and generosity, and for the deep respect he held for his colleagues and patients alike. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Karen; children, Jordan Bastien (Pierre) and Megan Coster; grandchildren, Luc and Rowan Bastien; and sister, Sandra Decker. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. His ashes will be scattered on the waters off Gwynn's Island and Hawaii. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Parkinson's Foundation or the VCU NICU.