Fern Piret

Dr. Fern Piret of Prince George’s County, Maryland passed away on Thursday May 22, 2025 at her home in Chambersburg, PA. She was 84 years young.

Fernie was one of nine children of a cotton farmer, Tommie, and his wife, Thelma, in the Texas panhandle. Rugged farm life undoubtedly contributed to the strength and resilience she managed to eloquently personify. After earning her BA in Government & Politics from Texas Tech where she pledged Delta Gamma, Fern married Ron Piret on June 2, 1962. Three years later, Fern received the ultimate birthday gift when she gave birth to her first child, a baby girl named Laura. Devoted to her role as a mother and naval officer’s wife, Fern accompanied Ron as they were stationed all around the world. In Scotland, they proudly welcomed the arrival of a son, Chris.

Fern taught English to grade-school children in Japan. When it came time for their own kids to enroll in school, Fern & Ron returned to the States where she earned her PhD in Policy from the University of Maryland in College Park. A natural leader and advisor, Fern settled into what would become a decades-long career in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She served as Legislative Assistant to County Councilman and Chairman Parris N. Glendening. Upon his election as County Executive, Parris astutely took Fern with him as his Senior Advisor where she was responsible for the entire development review process for the Executive Branch, working with the Legislative Branch, the M-NCPPC Planning Department, and several County agencies. In 1989, she was hired by M-NCPPC as the Planning Director for Prince George’s County, where she served par excellence for 27 years. With her sage advice, she played a pivotal role in bringing the Metrorail Green Line to Prince George’s County, establishing the Purple Line trajectory, facilitating the National Harbor Waterfront development, and contributed significantly to the reconstruction of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River, which received several national awards.

To know Fern was to love her. A devout feminist and advocate for minorities and the underprivileged of the greater metropolitan area, her lasting impact on Prince George’s County will be felt for decades to come. To no one’s surprise, Fern spent her final years reading the Washington Post, Perrier in hand until “wine time” and doing crossword puzzles with her family as Buddy Holly played on the record player. Her wisdom, positivity, and altruism will be fondly remembered by all who were privileged to know her. Fern is preceded in death just this year by her beloved sister, Pearlene. She is survived by her brother, Ovis; 2 children, Laura and Chris; 5 grandchildren: Britni, Kate, Kayla, Ben, and Jack; and 5 great grandchildren: Ronan, Liberty, Blake, Maeve, and Avery.

Friends and family are invited to attend the service in her honor at 1:00 pm on June 22, 2025 in The Hall at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. If so inclined, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to The National Organization for Women at www.NOW.org.

Arrangements are entrusted to SimpleChoice Cremation Services, Chambersburg.  Online condolences may be expressed at simple-choicecremation.com.