Remembering Gerhard, the Dude Abides

We first met Gerhard through our friend Renee.  He was the English professor who years earlier had been her graduate school thesis advisor.

The two had remained very close and Renee invited Gerhard to join our group of friends who took turns hosting each other at dinner,  and who in summer spent weekends together in the country at Renee’s house and at ours.  (See Comfort Food for Renee)

And times spent with Gerhard were always delightful!  He was bright and witty,  always ready for a lively debate on politics,  or books,  or any subject you’d propose.  A Victorian literature scholar,  every year he’d attend the Dickens Universe conference in California and regale us with stories of the scholarly and not so scholarly goings-on there.

And always ready with an amusing challenge,  Gerhard once asked us each to draft a message we’d like engraved on our tombstone!

One summer weekend at our house I remember how shocked Gerhard was to learn some of us had never seen the 1998 Coen Brothers/Jeff Bridges cult film The Big Lebowski.  He found it streaming online and insisted we watch it together that night.  We did,  and afterwards in typical Gerhard fashion we discussed the film and debated its message.

Then in his late 80s Gerhard developed heart disease and for a time was in cardiac rehab where we visited him.   He returned home but was never completely well,  and during the pandemic we got the unhappy news that our friend had died.

Like most funerals during that fitful time Gerhard’s service waz Zoomed,  and thus we even missed the solace of mourning him together.

But you are unforgettable Gerhard,  the Dude abides.

– Dana Susan Lehrman