George Leo Gero

George Leo Gero, 81 of Denver passed away April 10, 2010. Born January 27, 1929, in Denver, Colorado to Leo and Susie Gero . He attended North Denver High School before joining the U.S. Army in 1948. He was awarded a Purple Heart medal and the Korean Service Medal with 5 bronze stars. After his separation from the U.S. Army in 1952 he married Ardith Aileen Burton and had two sons, Scot and Gregg Gero. After his divorce from Ardith, he married Donna Louise Harris in 1959. They had one daughter, Christine Gero Laroe. He was employed by the Denver Tramway Company in 1968 as a Bus Operator and retired from the Regional Transportation District as a Transportation Clerk in 1991.

Devoted Grandfather to Anthony "Tony" James Laroe. George spent almost every day with Tony, taking him to and from school and sharing a common love of sports. Grandpa taught Tony the love of fishing taking him on many fishing expeditions. In 1997 George was assistant coach for Tony's junior football team, the Thornton Junior Football Falcons. He was referred to as "Coach Grandpa" by the whole team. "Coach Grandpa" loved coaching the kids so much that he went on to coach the next year. Often George would enter drawings for Colorado Rockies tickets and won many times. Each time he won, he took Tony with him to the games. In 1998 George entered Tony's name into a drawing to be an Honorary Stick Kid for a Colorado Avalanche game. Tony won the honor along with four tickets to the game. Grandpa Gero was very proud to see his grandson up on the Jumbo Tron and shaking hands with Avalanche player Adam Deadmarsh.

After the passing of his wife Donna, George moved to an assisted living community. He found great and long lasting friendships with the staff and residents. The Activities Director recalled how George wanted to talk to everyone but preferred conversations with the ladies. "He always wanted to talk to you and listened to your troubles." He enjoyed the frequent outings with the residents. One of the outings that he especially loved was dining at Hooters. It was hard to get him to place an order because he was so preoccupied with the scenery. As he later told his daughter, "That was the best cheese burger that I ever had!" Among George's friendships at the assisted living center was a former Episcopalian Minister who suffered from Alzheimer's. They spent countless hours talking together, even though the minister asked George the same questions over and over during the conversation. George answered him each time as though he had never heard the question before. A special relationship was born between the two of them that lasted even after George left the center and the minister was moved elsewhere.

In the fall of 2008 George was stricken with a brief illness that made it necessary for him to live with his daughter. After weeks of physical therapy at home he was able to leave behind his walker and walk with his trusted cane "Becky II". He continued to stay in the best possible physical shape by exercising daily at home and attending fitness classes at the local senior center. Once again, George acquired many new friends at the senior center, always greeting everyone as they arrived for class and cutting up with the instructors during. Many times during the course of the class he would dance with the instructor and other ladies in the class. George always wore special hats to class. On Wednesday's he wore his blue driving cap and offered it to the instructor to wear. The instructor always obliged him by wearing the cap slightly tilted to one side or completely backwards, making for a more lively class. George was always concerned about the well being of anyone that did not attend class and was relieved when they returned.

Although George always had a close relationship with his daughter Chris, the bond between the two grew stronger during his last two years of his life. He and Chris spent every day together, usually "going out and about" as George referred to it. The destinations never really matter as long as it involved being around people. Each morning he would grab his trusted cane and say "Come on Becky II. We have places to go." He would then turn to Chris and say "Are we ready Mc Duff?" Everyone he passed during the day received a warm "Hi! How are you today?" George made friends at the pharmacy, the grocery store and the butcher shop always greeting them by name and offering a funny little anecdote. Chris and George often went to the same grocery store as the residents of the assisted living center where he used to live. George could hardly wait to see his friends depart the shuttle bus at the grocery store. On every aisle he would greet his old friends with a hug and a wish for the day.

Often their journeys led them to the mountains for a scenic drive and lunch. Those trips always made George happy because he loved the beauty and serenity of the mountains. He also loved to visit his old North Denver neighborhood where he grew up. Driving through his old neighborhood George would point out homes where friends and family once resided, sharing memories of his youth. Chris recalled that George's father had been a streetcar conductor for the Denver Tramway Company and took him on a trolley ride along the Platte River. He was thrilled to see all of the sights, especially the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field. George was content to spend time at home with his daughter doing household chores or working in the yard. George would sit in the swing on the patio and direct Chris as she pruned the shrubs or tended to her herb garden, offering his advice. During the last summer of his life George decided he would do a little gardening of his own. Chris took George to the garden center and they purchased gladiola bulbs. George sat on the patio and carefully planted each bulb in small planter pots. Each day he would go out to the patio to check on their progress and was overjoyed as the plants began to mature. George encouraged Chris to plant more flowers in the yard, even though Chris did not have a talent for gardening. That didn't matter to George as he assured her that he would help care for the flowers. That summer George kept flowers in his room.

George's younger brother, Richard, recalled how George always stood up for him and shared his love of sports by teaching him to swing a baseball bat and to throw a football. Many times after school George and Richard would gather neighborhood friends together to play a game of pick up football. The games usually lasted until well after dark and the brothers would return home to find dinner was cold, much to their mother's dismay. "George was a hero to me." Richard stated, as he was to many.

His niece, Vickie described his life perfectly, "He lived his life and he loved the people in it". George not only loved the people in his life but everyone he met in daily life. He never knew a stranger. Everyone was his friend. His love knew no bounds. He loved all of nature, creatures great and small and flowers. George is survived by his Daughter, Christine Laroe, Son-in-law, Mark Laroe, Grandson, Anthony James Laroe, Denver, CO. Sons, Scot (Valerie) Gero, Northglenn, CO and Gregg Gero, Durango, CO. Brother Richard Gero, Ft. Collins, CO. Nieces, Kathy Wattenburg, Downey, CA, Vickie (Dick) Wyatt, Phoenix, AZ, Becky Robertson, Meridian, ID, Julie (Todd) Deutsch, Ft. Collins, CO, Gilbert "Butch" Carroll, St. Francis, KS, Richard Gero Jr., Grand Junction, CO, Aileen (John) Lenzi, San Jose, CA and Arleen (William) Schlafer, Santee, CA. Nephews, Gilbert "Butch" Carroll, St. Francis, KS, Richard Gero Jr., Grand Junction, CO, Grandchildren, Michele (Gero) Sanchez, Scot Gero Jr., Nicole Gero and Shea Gero. Great-Grandchildren, Zack Gero, Herb Sanchez and Svea Sanchez. George also leaves behind his dog Rufus and three cats. Preceded in death by wife Donna, sisters, Geraldine, Evelyn and Maxine and niece, Shirley (Don) Edmon.