Dear Samara, Mia, and Isaac, 
I'm sorry not to have met you all, but only to have seen your faces smiling at Shane from a picture in his cubicle at the Department of State.  Please accept my sincere condolences, and extend my deep sympathy to your whole family for your terrible loss.  I had the very highest personal and professional regard for Shane as a friend and coworker.  During our five years as OBO Bureau colleagues we worked closely together on expanding and rebuilding various U.S. embassy campuses, beginning in Kampala and concluding in Jerusalem.  Shane always proved to be an excellent project leader, in addition to demonstrating outstanding creativity and technical skills.  I'm quite grateful to have had that opportunity to collaborate and travel with and learn from him, and will certainly miss Shane's presence in my own life.
Best Wishes,
Steve
P.S.  attached photo illustrates rigors of overseas business travel

Jay & Family.  So very sorry to hear of your loss.  Can only imagine how devastating it is for your and your family.  Will keep you in our thoughts & prayers.
Skip & Ginny Urbanek

In my life I’ve known two kinds of stars. Some are outspoken: we know they’re stars because they constantly remind us about their star qualities. Others just are. We don’t need reminders because their qualities are obvious, and have a beneficial effect on our lives. For me, Shane was the second kind of star. Working with him was always fun, though I never doubted, not even for a single moment, that he took his work very seriously. 

I wish it could have gone on forever. My life would no doubt have been better if I had been able to stay close to him. Somewhere along the way though, between where we were at the time and where we were going at some time in the future, our world fell apart, and we were forced to go our separate ways.

I have no doubt that Shane was a star government employee. The qualities I saw in him were, after all, everything I think a good government is supposed to be about. He was intelligent and efficient; modest but unpretentious; both objective and empathetic; reliably honest, and always reliable. Other people must have wondered, as I sometimes did, how such a perfect machine could also be such a wonderful human being.

I didn’t know Shane’s wife and children well, but in our brief meetings I thought I saw what I needed to know by the look in their eyes.  Obviously he was for them a star husband and a star dad too, the kind many of us imagine being ourselves.

Shane’s time in the world was far too brief, and that world will be less now than it was before. We will always remember though, without being reminded, how much better the world is for each of us because of the time we were allowed to share with Shane.


Sam, your beautiful tribute to Shane today brought tears to my eyes. The story of Sam and Shane is one I’ve shared many times over the years, because it is a true, real-life love story. From the very beginning, you two were a connected pair. You made a relationship look so comfortable and easy. You complimented each other perfectly. I feel fortunate to have been a witness from the night he picked you up for that first date so long ago and then being along for the ride to see all of your accomplishments, adventures, and the beautiful family you two created. My heart breaks for you, Mia, Isaac, and your families. I am thinking of you always.

Dearest Samara, Mia, and Isaac ~

We are so grateful to have known Shane, though our time together was far too short. I will always remember his thoughtfulness and pure kindness. I was a newly single mother, new to the neighborhood, and struggling to keep it together with two small kids, when Luca and Isaac became friends in Kindergarten and we met you all for the first time.  Shane would just out of the blue offer to take my kids sledding or pumpkin carving or whatever fun activity you guys had planned. I wonder if he knew how overwhelmed I was and how huge his sweet gestures were to me and to Luca and Liliane?  It made us feel included and part of a community at a time when we otherwise felt so alone.  I also loved shooting the breeze with Shane about work and making insider management jokes, like the one about my falling down Embassy building (not actually a joke, but we laughed anyway).  I was so thrilled when he got hired full time by OBO, and he was so excited about it. I had no idea until today he had just been promoted, but I’m not at all surprised. 

It was so wonderful when you came to visit us in Paris in 2019. I remember Shane up like an early bird reading all my travel guides and plotting how you two would make the most of every minute.  Our last dinner together at Cactus Cantina later that summer was icing on the cake.  I can’t believe Shane won’t be there this summer when we are finally able to come back to Washington.  I had all these architectural stories I was saving up for him.  

You are such a special family and we are holding you in our hearts during this painful time. Know that we will be here for you, just as Shane was there for us. 

Love Amy, Luca, and Liliane

Samara and family:  I am so sorry for your loss. You will continue to be in my prayers. 

I got to work with Shane at OBO- we were part of the Israel team, so I was his cubicle neighbor. Boy, was he a great team leader. He made sure your views were always considered and he pushed you to do better always- not through intimidation or threats, but because you didn't want to let him down. We had a running joke that we were the 'C-Team' (as opposed to the A-Team...) but with his leadership, we were able to do great things.

I loved hearing stories about his kids- he bragged about you all the time! Anything having to do with family, he was so proud of- he'd share dog stories and describe the meals you all cooked. We teased him because he'd stroll into work in the morning all sweaty from his bike ride and be complaining about some driver who cut him off. Then around lunch time, he'd whip out his salad and we'd hear the shake-shake-shake of it as he tried to mix it up before he opened it.  One thing I hope I always remember- when he was thinking about something, he had this habit where he'd stop talking and look up to the side, think a bit and then continue on. I can picture him doing it now. You knew that you should pay attention because whatever he said next would be great. 

Another memory I'll hold close is our team's rest stop in Rome on the way to Tel Aviv  one time. It was so HOT out and I had dreams of relaxing in a cafe sipping wine  all day but somehow Shane convinced us to walk over 12 miles to see all the major sites. "Its not far from here...." My feet were not grateful at the time but now when I look back I'm so glad I had that day with him. He was the King of Selfies and he took a bunch that day! 

Shane was a great man and  I'll miss his humor, thoughtfulness, sage advice and non-stop energy. My prayers are with you as you go through the grief and sorrow of losing him. I hope you can find some comfort in the outpouring of love from others who knew him. 

We remember Shane as the little brother watching as our Jeff’s were playing little league. Sunday school and Hebrew and family Shabbat. May his memory be for a blessing.  The Barry Deutch family 

To Shane's Family:

Shane and I attended UC together, and were in the same cohort for co-op so we spent a lot of time in those cramped studios over the years. I took a pause pre-senior year so I wasn't in that class, but ran into him again the following year when he finished his degree.  I - somehow- wound-up with one of his extension cords after studio. How much I wish I could return it. 

Shane was a great guy and I recall him always being friendly and smiley, even when annoyed with the rest of us. Seriously, Shane, we didn't mean it when we said all your projects looked like guns. In retrospect it was a bit cruel and I apologize for my part in that. 

It was always enjoyable seeing updates from him over the years, even though we weren't very close.  His passion and joy for our shared professional interests was always inspiring. 

I wish all of you only kindness and easy times in the future. This is a terrible loss and I can only imagine your grief. 

OBITUARY

Shane Michael Gerson

21 August, 1974 – 10 April, 2021

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

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