Gerald Nyquist

"My Life" as written by Gerald:

As I write (at age 83), it’s not over yet, but it will be someday when you read this; and, of course, the “final chapter” will never be written by me. I wrote summaries of my parent’s and brother’s lives for their funerals, and now have decided to write one for myself, simply to provide an overview of my circuitous path stumbling through life; and besides, it’ll give you something to read during a perhaps boring funeral home visitation. There is no intent to be pompous - - please give me the benefit of the doubt. I was born December 28, 1940 in Deaconess Hospital on East Jefferson in Detroit. (Deaconess was torn-down years ago - - I outlasted my “alma mater.”) I had a wonderful childhood, growing up on Detroit’s east side, with a move to Eastpointe in 1957. Summer weekends were spent at a family cottage on Lake Huron until I was about fourteen years old. My only sibling, Dennis, and I were inseparable. We had the world’s most devoted mother, a stay-at-home mom who was always there for us. I was a product of Detroit Public Schools and went on to Lawrence Technological Univ., Wayne State Univ., and Michigan State Univ. where in 1970 I received a doctorate in mechanics. During the second half of my teens I was involved in bicycle racing, my most noteworthy accomplishment being tenth-place, junior division national champ in 1956. I still love bike riding, but the racing days are long gone - - I dawdle along. My first two jobs were at supermarkets, where I peaked-out at $2.07/hour as a part-time A&P cashier. Later, I became a registered professional engineer and held engineering positions at Ford Motor Company, Wayne State University and General Motors Corp., following which I owned my own consulting engineering company for a number of years. Most of my career focused on biomechanics - - the application of the principles of mechanics to biological systems, most always the human body. My research activities in the fields of vehicle crash safety and impact biomechanics led to many published papers, and I’m proud to have been the inventor of a design feature, the “shaping strut,” utilized in most, if not all, automobile steering wheel airbags. During retirement I enjoyed non-technical writing and had numerous articles published. Commencing in 1971, over a period of twenty-six years I restored the historic Thomas Matthews Farm in Sanilac County, MI, obtaining a listing on the National Register of Historic Places and acquiring a Michigan historical marker. Always enjoying hands-on work with tools, the restoration project was a natural, and provided a great feeling of accomplishment, as well as profession-related stress relief. Alas, I created a monster - - the farm became a burden to maintain, so was passed-on to younger “caretakers” in 1997. I had two motorcycles while at the farm and acquired a pilot’s license in 1982, flying single-engine planes during the next several years. Mother worried! From the farm I relocated to a golf course condominium in Lexington, after which I moved back to my mother’s Eastpointe home, enabling her to remain there during advanced age. Finally, in 2007 I moved to a condominium home in Macomb Township, intending it to be my residence for the remainder of my days. I enjoyed monthly visits to my Traverse City-area cottage on Rennie Lake from 2002 to 2023; my “yacht” was made of aluminum, twelve-feet long. The above-mentioned farm jump-started my interest in history, leading eventually to the presidency of the Sanilac County Historical Society as well as researching my genealogy, the latter uniting me with cousins in Sweden - - good folks, a wonderful country. I always enjoyed travel and was fortunate to have set foot on six of the seven continents (not Antarctica) and to have visited all 50 states, the provinces of Canada, the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Central America, and many of the European countries. Cruise ships were often the mode of transportation. Regrets? Few, but if I could go around a second time I’d appreciate my parents more, marry and have children, reach out for more friendships, and take more time to “smell the roses.” But we only go around once, and all-in-all it’s been a good ride. Thank-you for being a part of my life.

Visitation Thursday, August 13th from 4pm until 8pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr Road, Warren, MI 48088. There will be a sharing of memories at 6pm at the funeral home. A committal service will take place on Friday, August 14th at 11am meeting at Oakwood Cemetery, 35900 24 Mile Rd, New Baltimore, MI 48047.

Memorial donations to St. Jude Children's Research hospital in lieu of flowers, are appreciated.