Submitted by his wife

His memory lives on in ways we’ll never see‚ through lives he has saved and fates he has changed—-a hero he’ll always be.

Known as ‘Mac’ to his friends and fellow firefighters‚ Gerald served his community proudly for 32 years as a member of the Kansas City‚ Missouri Fire Department.

Gerald was born and grew up in the Kansas City area. He participated in scouting‚ ultimately achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. In high school he excelled in track and field and was an avid sports enthusiast all his life.

He was an honorable veteran of the Vietnam War‚ earning three medals while serving in the U.S. Army. Married for 34 years‚ family was everything to him. He was especially proud of his two sons‚ one of which followed his footsteps into the fire service.

‘Mac’ achieved the rank of Fire Apparatus Operator early in his career and spent most of his years driving the pumper at one of the busiest fire stations in the city. He was so well thought of at that station that a permanent memorial to his memory was constructed out in front of it at the expense of his fellow firefighters. Our Fire Chief spoke of him as ‘a positive representative of the fire department and one that parents would want their kids to look up to’.

He enjoyed fishing‚ football‚ and spending time with family. He coached his son’s little league teams for many years. He also coached elementary school basketball. His pride and joy was his little granddaughter‚ Alyssa Nicole. A grandson will arrive in November.

A few months shy of his retirement‚ he gave his all—-dying in the line of duty. No one can take his place in our hearts. Our son‚ Kevin‚ says with every firefighter he visits with‚ his father is revealed to him and that everyone who has shared a story or spoke of his father nobly—-has shown the value of his father’s life.