Obituary

Tom Gerhart age 72 of Bellingham passed away at home on August 8, 2021 with his loving wife and devoted son at his side after battling his third fight with cancer. Born April 19, 1949 in Meadville, PA to loving parents Charles Gerhart and Ortha (Ford) Gerhart, he grew up in Saegertown, Pa and was the third of four brothers. Tom loved to tell happy stories about growing up in his family. Tom graduated in 1967 from Saegertown High School and went on to further earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s Degree in Construction Management from Colorado State University.

Tom loved adventure, travel and the great outdoors. In 1971, he and his friend rode motorcycles from Pennsylvania to California. From California he traveled to Fort Collins, CO and decided to make his home there. In the 1970’s he took two long backpacking trips to explore Central and South America. Sometimes he traveled for periods with people he knew or met along the way, or went solo. For 3 years in the 1970’s he lived in a rustic cabin in Rist Canyon just outside Fort Collins that he restored. It had no running water or electricity and he enjoyed the quiet simplicity of that life.  While earning his Master’s degree he met his wife Lisa (Pedersen) in 1980 and they married May 30, 1981.

Tom’s work as an Estimator for Engineering/Construction companies took them to Houston, Denver and Seattle before they finally settled in Bellingham, WA in 1988. Two children were born, Kendra (1991) and Ben (1992). Tom was a very hard working family man who always put his family first. He had a curiosity about how things worked. It seemed he could fix anything and was always doing projects around the house.

Tom loved to take the family camping to enjoy the great outdoors and see new places. When on a hike he would reluctantly turn back because he wanted to know what was around the next curve.  In 2016 Tom and Lisa enjoyed a two month trip to explore northern Europe and in 2018 took another two month trip to explore the Mediterranean areas of Europe.

Tom was preceded in death by his daughter Kendra (2001) who lost her battle with a brain tumor and his parents, Ortha (1989) and Charles (1997). He leaves behind his wife Lisa, son Ben, three brothers; Donald of Park Forest, IL, Richard (Patricia) of Meadville, PA and Charles (Stacey) of Ocala, FL and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Tom was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 22^nd at 3:00 p.m. at Moles Farewell Tributes – 2465 Lakeway Dr., Bellingham, WA with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be mailed to Ronald McDonald House Charities- Seattle, 5130 40^th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 or sent to www.rmhcseattle.org/donate/