Friday, July 22, 2022
I don’t remember days, but I do remember moments. I have several moments I can recall over the past 51 plus years when I first met Gerry at Aurora University. We were roommates and became good friends. We both had a common core of interests that we shared. We shared a passion for the outdoors and cars. We both loved the outdoors, and we were able to run trails, hike and camp together. In regard to sport cars, Gerry had a 1968 Datsun 2000 (grey in color) and I had a 1969 MGB (yellow in color). It was not uncommon for us during the Chicago winters to be seen driving our cars all bundled up with the tops down while it was snowing. We spent many hours together touring the back roads of Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky and NC in those cars. We attended several of the British Car Rallies and Cross-Country Road Races in Wisconsin. We admired those Little British Cars (LBCs) racing against time and each other. We both dreamed about participating in those races but being college students, we did not have the money. However, we both dreamed big.
After receiving our diplomas, we along with another good friend, Odie Washington, enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY. Gerry and I packed up our cars with all of our possessions and drove to KY begin work on our master’s degree. Ky was much closer to home (NC) for Gerry, so we spent many times visiting some of his famous hang outs like Wilson Creek, Grandfather Mountain and Mt. Mitchell. It was during this time that I learned how much Gerry was into the outdoors. He appeared to be one with Mother Nature. On one occasion as we were driving the back roads of KY, Gerry came to a sudden stop which was not unusual since he often stopped to admire the landscape, scenery or a deer running across the field. Anyway, he exited from his car, stopped traffic, walked over and picked up a turtle. He carried it to the side of the road and gently let it go. I said to myself, more people need to follow Gerry’s example for the appreciation of our environment.
I visited him on several occasions in the NC mountains where he educated me to his world of waterfalls, streams and mountain roads with beautiful vistas’. He introduced me to Grandfather Mountain, Mt. Mitchell, Wilson Creek, Blowing Rock and many other favorite spots of his. He was most at home hiking, running trails and bicycle road racing. I recall a road trip we took to New England. We visited Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, and the White Mountains where we hiked the Hut to Hut Trail. It was at Bar Harbor after eating mass quantities of claims/lobster that we discovered Gerry was allergic to shellfish. I had to transport him to the local hospital in the middle of the night where he received a vaccine to deal with the reactions. Just one of many of stories and good memories collected over the years.
I will say it has been several years since I last saw Gerry. No excuses other than to say that “
life” got in the way with career, job transfers, marriage, everyday chores, responsibilities and obligations. For that, I am regretful for not taking time out to visit a dear old friend. I truly miss the old boy. He was joy to be around, and we shared many great times together.
The best way to sum up Gerry from my perspective is based upon the following quote (don’t recall the source but it goes something like this: “I would rather have a lifetime of experiences than a house full of stuff”. I think this fits my friend Gerry perfectly.
Gerry, there is an old saying used in the US Navy that reads as follows – “may you have fair winds and following seas”. It is an expression wishing a person a safe and smooth journey. Gerry, may you have fair winds and following seas into the next world. Love you and will miss you a bunch.
God Bless
Steven Matteson
