Robert Edward Gerhart's Obituary
Robert E. Gerhart, age 87, died on December 21, 2014 at home in Clearwater, Florida. He had suffered from heart failure. Robert (to many of his relatives) or Bob (to most of his friends) was born in what is now Westlake, Ohio on August 7, 1927. He graduated from Holy Trinity School in Avon and from Westlake High School. Although he worked in a number of jobs during and immediately following high school, he eventually joined “the phone company” (Ohio Bell) at age 19 and spent the next 36 years there. He worked in installation and repair, which in his early days included climbing telephone poles. Bob was eventually promoted to foreman and then to district installation superintendent at Ohio Bell. One interesting part of his territory in Cleveland was Municipal Stadium where the Browns and Indians played. At Browns games, together with his foreman, Bob oversaw communications between the sidelines and the press box, which provided some interesting inside experiences. (It also provided his sons an opportunity to be on the sidelines for some Browns games.) Outside of work, Bob could (and did) fix or build just about anything and his good and helpful nature meant that he not only did this work around his own house, but that he also often helped family, friends, and the church. As a young man, he enjoyed roller skating and one night at the rink he met Lillian (Shirley) Fawcett. They married and spent the next 60 years together until Shirley died in 2007. They had two children, Robert and Barry, and made many friends while living in Westlake, North Ridgeville, and Avon (all in Ohio) and later in North Carolina and Wisconsin. As a young man, Bob was a pretty fair fastpitch softball pitcher who could throw a wicked drop, which was hard to hit and also not too easy to catch. He also coached little league. Later, when his son Robert (Bobby) began working at Lakewood Country Club during high school, Bob was introduced to the game of golf and he enjoyed it for many years to come. He was also active in the church (Holy Trinity in Avon and later, St. Julie Billiart Church in North Ridgeville). He took wonderful care of his mother, Theckla (who lived with Bob and his family) for many years. He also took wonderful care of Shirley, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease and its complications for several years prior to her death. After Shirley died, Bob was devastated. Little did he know that he had one more appointment with love: Maxine Bertram. They were married in 2011 and he lived with Maxine (a Wisconsin native) in her home in Clearwater, Florida. Early in their marriage, they were like your typical newlyweds. Just a little older. Later, when Bob’s health deteriorated, Maxine (with help from her son, Kevin) provided love and attentive care until his death. Bob was predeceased by his wife, Shirley, his mother, Theckla, his father, Ben, his sister, Irene, and his brother, Merle (Bud). He is survived by his (second) wife, Maxine, his step-son, Kevin, his son, Robert and his wife Sharon, his son Barry and his wife Heather, and by his grandchildren: Brian, Bethany, Christian, and Annie. Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10:30 AM Saturday December 27, 2014 at St. Julie Billiart Church 5500 Lear Nagel Road North Ridgeville where the family will receive friends from 9:30 AM until time of Mass at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Avon.
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