Timothy Gerlach

Timothy Gerlach On August 21, 2017, as the morning sun was shadowed by an eclipse, Timothy Gerlach passed away after a long battle against cancer, with his family by his side. Tim was born in Vallejo, California, the second of seven children, and was raised in Napa. Tim graduated from Napa High School, where he excelled in three sports, and went on to play baseball and football at Solano College. He was inducted into the Solano College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. His passion and determination were not missed by the UC Berkeley baseball coaching staff, where he earned a position on the team. His career as a Cal Bear culminated with the team earning an appearance at the 1980 College World Series. He was also honored by his teammates when he was voted the Edwin Lord Most Inspirational Player.

Upon graduation from Cal, Tim began his career in San Francisco working in the employee benefits field. After a short stint in Denver, Colorado, Tim realized that the Bay Area is where he wanted to spend his years, close to family and friends. When his beloved son Michael arrived in 1991, Tim was overjoyed. They shared a mutual love of all things baseball, and Tim was at most of Michael’s games from Little League through San Jose State, travelling wherever the schedule would take them. Michael returned the love, especially during his dad’s illness, driving to the Bay Area every week from his home in Carmel to visit and inspire him.

Tim’s talents went beyond the athletic fields. He was a gifted artist, storyteller, and humorist, blessed with a quick wit and always ready with a joke or three. He was a proud member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, and traveled extensively with friends over the years.

In addition to his son, Michael, Tim is survived by his parents, Hank and Sally Gerlach, his brothers and sisters, Molly LeMasters (Tom), Thomas Gerlach, Ted Gerlach (Jodi), Todd Gerlach (Liz), Jane Gerlach (fiancé Bob Doshier), and was predeceased by his sister Nancy Gerlach-Farren and niece Jill Vanoli. He is also loved and respected by 15 nieces and nephews, and 3 grandnieces and a grandnephew, and will be missed by his long-time girlfriend Susie DesMarteau. Tim also leaves behind countless friendships that he has fostered over the years. Many of those friends have reached out to him the past several months, providing comfort and calm during a difficult time.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Tim’s life in a funeral mass at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, 3700 Lassen Street, Napa, California, on Sunday August 27 at 2:00 in the afternoon. A reception at Napa Valley Country Club will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be sent in Tim’s name to the Cal Baseball Foundation, www.calbaseballfoundation.org or to Collabria Care Hospice, www.collabriacare.org

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