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Robert J. Gerlich: Family and Baseball

 

Last month, Robert J. Gerlich rounded up his sons, Matt and Daniel, for an afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Mets lost again, but he didn't complain. He never complained. "He didn't care," Matt said. "He always had a good time."

A lifelong baseball fan, Mr. Gerlich, 56, worked long hours as an accountant for Guy Carpenter & Company. But his weekends were devoted to his family in Monroe, Conn., and to baseball. Though his wife of 23 years, Rochelle, never shared his passion for the sport, he found willing seatmates in his sons. They would talk and joke in between cheers for the Mets or the Bridgeport Bluefish (he was a season ticket holder). And no matter who won or lost, they would have a good time together.

"He's one of those guys you have to know," Matt said. "It's hard to describe him. If you knew him, you knew he was a cool guy."

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From "Profiles in Grief" of The New York Times