Thomas Eugene Gerhart entered this world much earlier than he was expected as a baby, and he left this earthly life way too soon as an adult. Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, he moved with his family to Michigan as a young boy, spending the rest of his life as a Michigander. After a grueling three-week hospital stay, he passed away peacefully at The Residence of Arbor Hospice on Saturday September 5, 2020 with his sister holding his hand.
"Tommy" loved music and could belt out a version of any Motown hit with no words needed. As a young boy, he loved swimming in the Lake, picnics of Mom’s fried chicken and macaroni salad, and swinging on park swings to dizzying heights. More recently he was quite happy to be “retired” and preferred to spend time in his own room surrounded by the care of the Green Home staff who so lovingly cared for him for more than twenty years. Blindness and significant cognitive disabilities never kept Tom from enjoying life his way!
Tom was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, Paul Andrew and Emma Sylvia Gerberich Gerhart and Charles Isaac and Victoria May Bowman Dugan, and his mother, Mary Jane "Kitty" Dugan Gerhart. He is survived by his father and step mother, Paul Jacob and Ruth Rauch Gerhart of Wernersville, PA, his sister Rebecca Gerhart Fogle (Jon) of Sinking Spring, PA and nephews Paul Allen Fogle, of Annville, PA, Thomas Lorenzo Fogle, and Andrew Jacob Fogle, both of Philadelphia, PA, his Gerhart and Dugan family/cousins, and his dear Green Home caregivers lead by Ms. Sallie Lusane, of Livonia, Michigan.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday October 17, 2020 at Harry Will Funeral Home, Livonia, Michigan from 9:00am until time of service at 12:00pm. The service will also be available for remote participation for family and friends unable to travel and to remain safe during current COVID- 19 precautions. Please join virtually through the zoom link provided below. Burial will be private at family discretion.
Memorial donations may be made to individual charity of choice or to The Residence of Arbor Hospice, 440 W. Russell St. #100, Saline, Michigan 48176, which can be found online at: https://www.arborhospice.org/donate/donation-form/
Join virtually through zoom:
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