Obituaries

She had no immediate survivors.

-- Adam Bernstein

Gertrude Tucker WekerPsychologist

Gertrude Tucker Weker, 89, a retired psychologist who worked for the CIA from its early years, died of heart disease July 25 at Bedford Court assisted living community in Silver Spring. She was a longtime resident of Bethesda until 2004.

Mrs. Weker was born in Chelsea, Mass., and grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1939 and received a master's degree in psychology from New York University in 1947.

During World War II, she spent three years in Sri Lanka with the Office of Strategic Services on a British-American mission headed by Lord Louis Mountbatten. She moved to Washington in 1946 and subsequently worked for the new CIA with a group that assessed personnel for classified assignments.

After leaving the agency in 1973, she worked for a private firm that was a consultant to the Drug Enforcement Administration. She retired in 1983.

Mrs. Weker was a former secretary of Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County in Bethesda and was twice president of the Sisterhood of Congregation Beth El. She was also a life member of Hadassah and the Technion Society.

Her husband, Simon Weker, whom she married in 1952, died in 2003.

Survivors include three children, Laurie Weker Lipton of Rockville, Jonathan Lloyd Weker of Montpelier, Vt., and Robert Baylor Weker of Wynnewood, Pa.; and four grandchildren.

-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb

Maryrose T. AthenasiadesComputer Specialist

Maryrose Thompson Athenasiades, 59, a computer specialist who grew up in Alexandria, died July 14 of cirrhosis of the liver at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, N.C. She lived in Cullowhee, N.C.

Ms. Athenasiades was born in South Bend, Ind., and spent most of her youth in Alexandria, where she was known as Maryrose Thompson. She graduated from Edison High School in 1966.

She was an excellent oboist in high school and performed in various bands and orchestras. She also gave oboe lessons.

She attended James Madison University, where she played oboe in many musical groups.

She later studied at a computer school in Arlington and worked in Washington area computer companies for several years. She later moved to Texas, Orange County, Calif., and Phoenix before settling last year in North Carolina.

About 25 years ago, Ms. Athenasiades legally took the surname of her paternal grandfather, a Greek immigrant.

Her marriages to William Cox, Ron Parker and Michael Brunick ended in divorce.

Survivors include her parents, William G. and Eleanor V. Thompson of Alexandria; and four brothers, Paul J. Thompson of Alexandria, Martin W. Thompson of Sylva, Lawrence M. Thompson of Hartwood, Va., and James F. Thompson of Fort Worth.

-- Matt Schudel