Neil Gereb

Alfred Neil Gereb was born on June 12, 1940 to Alfred and Elizabeth (Virag) Gereb in grandpa and grandma Gereb’s house in Sharon, PA. He went by his middle name Neil. His parents had two additional sons, Gerald and Frederick. The family spent five years at the Virag’s farm, and they had their early years surrounded by siblings and cousins which led to much fun and mischief.

In 1950, his parents moved to California – first arriving in Rialto and then on to San Bernardino. Neil attended San Bernardino High School and graduated in 1958. He was a straight A student. He played basketball and football. He excelled at playing quarterback. This skill led him to a football scholarship at College of the Pacific. COP ended its football program one year later, and he transferred to University California, Berkeley where he was also offered a football scholarship. He was a chemistry major and graduated from Cal in 1963. He moved to Southern California and lived 56 years in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Neil worked in the aerospace industry, ultimately retiring from Hughes Aircraft as a Department of Defense Project Manager. He was truly a rocket scientist.

Neil’s love for sports led him to become an official. He officiated football, basketball and World Team Tennis. His football officiating went from high schools, junior colleges, PAC 8, PAC 10 to ultimately the NFL where he spent over 25 years. Most of those years in the NFL were as an Umpire #50.

Neil married his first wife, Rebecca (Staggs) after graduating college. They had three children, Todd, Stacie and Ami.

Neil married his second wife, Carrie (Rook) on July 4, 1981. They were married for 43 years.

Neil is survived by his widow, Carrie; his first wife, Rebecca (Roger Basham); his children, Todd (Lulu), Stacie (Wade Ratzlaff) and Ami (Brian Cooper); his grandchildren Alan, Anthony, Stephanie, Jonathan, Cody (Ratzlaff) and Shelbie (Ratzlaff); brothers, Gerald (Barbara) and Frederick (Patricia); brother-in-law Mark Rooke; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.