Gary W. Herp

Gary W. Herp

We bid a sad farewell to Gary W. Herp, age 72, passed away on Monday, September 23, 2019. He was born on the North Side of Pittsburgh and resided in both Pittsburgh and Florida. He was a loving husband of Martha A. Herp; dear brother of Wilma (Patrick) Morrison and Debra Herp; also survived by an adoring niece and nephews; and was son of the late William and Anne Stankovich Herp. Family will greet and receive friends on Saturday, September 28, 2019 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Most Holy Name Church at 1520 Claim Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-Troy Hill, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Arrangements entrusted to the HUGHES FUNERAL HOME, INC. 1501 Lowrie Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-Troy Hill. Please visit his online guestbook at www.hughesfhinc.com.

Memories of Gary from Marty Herp

It's hard to believe, in fact I still can't believe it. As much as you are shocked, I am still waiting to wake up from the nightmare. Last June, we began a magical, wonderful adventure through the eastern provinces of Canada- almost three months of one spectacular sight after the other. Gary finally met his "mystery Canadian cousins" in Toronto, whom he had heard about all his life, but had just found. They were more wonderful than we could have ever dreamed. It was our lifetime dream to travel like this, and we grew even closer (figuratively and literally). It was so much fun, Gary went on and on about how on our next trip, we'd go to Santa Barbara, CA, a place he particularly loves. September 23, we were making the bee line for PA, and just wanted an overnight in Walmart parking lot. After doing a little shopping, as we headed back across the parking lot to the trailer, but rain began to pour with high winds. He wanted me to run ahead and unlock the trailer, but his trip back was just too far...he was trying to run and he just pushed too hard. Almost half a century ago, for me at least, it was love at first sight. We met at a barn where we each boarded a horse. Over the years I marveled at how he could just do anything...he could fix practically everything! It took us years, but we built our first house and barn, even digging a pool and septic system by hand. Since then, we have undertaken many projects, and I also admired his dogged perseverance. Men like him are one in a million and I never forgot how lucky i was to have him. His profound kindness and love of animals almost overwhelmed me. For most of our marriage, we had horses, dogs, and cats, whom we both dearly loved. Never a dull moment. And I literally owe my life to him. Once, when I finally dragged him (not a happy flier) to an island, and I ended up drowning, he managed to pull me out of a wavy, rocky ocean, and with CPR, he brought me back to life (with the aid of a Canadian nurse, who was sitting on a bluff and saw him pulling me out). Ironic, being assisted by a Canadian, and now losing his own life after such a wonderful Canadian journey! If only I could have brought HIM back to life. Gary always had a smile, a joke, and a twinkle of mischief in his eye. He had a close-knit band of friends from Sears, where he worked over 45 years, and just a wonderful family that he deeply loved and, of course, still deeply love him. In the last several years, his first-Tuesday of the month "old farts breakfast meetings" with Sears retirees were some of his happiest days. This loss is particularly painful, being so sudden and unexpected. Gary has always been such a strong force, right up until the end. I have lost my best friend, the love of my life.

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