Gilbert C. Gerhard, age 79, of Rochester, passed away Saturday, January 30, 2021. Gil transitioned peacefully, comforted by his family at home. Beloved husband of Marilyn Gerhard, his wife of nearly 57 years. Loving father of Col. Mark Gerhard, USMC (Ret) and Denise Gerhard. Cherished grandfather of Noah and Lucas Gerhard. Caring brother of Laraine Rickard; and uncle to Laura (Doug) Gabrion, Amy (Al) Ludvigsen, and Col. Michael (Gina) Rickard USAF (Ret).
Gilbert was born the son of Elmer and Anastasia Gerhard in Detroit, Michigan on December 12, 1941. He graduated from Pershing High School, class of 1960. Gil earned his bachelor degree in accounting from the University of Detroit in 1964. He married Marilyn Onyszko on February 1st, 1964 at St. Augustine Church in Detroit. Gil practiced as a CPA for Coopers & Lybrand and later founded his own private partnership with Timothy O'Hara and Bill Sumerton. He later became the Chief Financial Officer for Arbor Drugs and later Executive Vice President at Arbor Investments.
Gil deeply loved his wife and his family. He also had many fond memories of the "Mullet Lake Crowd" which consisted of several families who vacationed with his own annually every year at the Silver Lodge Resort near Cheboygan, Michigan regularly for over a decade.
Gil's passions included owning and driving several Italian Sports cars, the most cherished being his Ferrari 458 Italia, especially on "track days" racing at the Waterford Hills Raceway. He also had a lifelong love for baseball, especially the Detroit Tiger's, where he was a season ticket holder at Tiger Stadium and later Comerica Park, and was an avid sports memorabilia collector which included an extensive collection of the 1968 World Series Championship team and the "Production Line" era of the Detroit Red Wings hockey club.
Gil’s family welcomes all to a visitation on Wednesday February 3rd from 10am followed by a Catholic funeral service at 1pm at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 322 W. University Drive in downtown Rochester. Burial will follow at Christian Memorial Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Gil’s honor to Toys for Tots online at toysfortots.org or at Pixley Funeral Home.
