“Bob was a good man,” said former Fairfield City Councilman Mark Scharringhausen. “He just worked very hard, and he led the city during a difficult time.”
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The city was dealing with flood control issues of Pleasant Run Creek, and Gerhardt “put us on the path to get that resolved,” Scharringhausen said.
Gerhardt was also the city manager when news came of the closure of the Fisher Body Plant, which contributed about $1 million a year to the city’s general fund, Scharringhausen said.
“That was a huge hole,” he said. The ultimate decision was “to take on a more aggressive form of economic development.”
“We needed a strong city manager and Bobby did a good job of execution of that time,” Scharringhausen said. “We could have gone south as well as north, and you have to credit the team at that time to making good decisions in helping us to head north.”
Gerhardt’s life was about service. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a military police officer, including a year tour of duty in Vietnam.
He then worked in public service for 30 years for the city of Fairfield, first as a police officer and clerk of the city council. He shifted to city administration on Dec. 3, 1979. He eventually became the assistant city administrator in May 1980 and city manager in June 1984. Gerhardt ended his service in Fairfield as a council member, serving from Dec. 1, 1989, to Dec. 31, 1997.
“He was a jewel, an absolute jewel,” said Fairfield City Councilman Ron D’Epifanio, who served with Gerhardt in the 1990s. “He was his own individual. Once he felt he was doing right for the residents, you weren’t going to talk him out of it, which is good.”
Former City Council member Jeff Holtegel said Gerhardt was “very passionate, and worked hard in the city. He had a huge knowledge of the city of Fairfield and served the city well. He was like a senior statesman when I first got elected (in 1993).”
Before the 1993 election, Holtegel said Gerhardt “kind of took me under his arm, and he didn’t have to” as they were opponents in the then-upcoming at-large election. Gerhardt, Holtegel and the late former council member Sterling Uhler won the three open council seats in a five-person race that year.
“I totally respected they (Gerhardt and Uhler) invited me to meet with them,” he said. “I was in awe of these guys because of their position.”
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Gerhardt worked for the Butler County Auditor’s office until his retirement.
Gerhardt was born in 1945 in Cleveland and married his wife of nearly 50 years, LaDonna, on June 14, 1969. He also was dedicated to service as a member and master of the Hugh Bates Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star, serving in several Masonic roles.
He also was a member of the Fairfield VFW.
In addition to his wife, Gerhardt is survived by his two sons Robert J. (Melissa) Gerhardt III, and Eric J. (Julie) Gerhardt; five grandchildren Madison L. (Nathan) Gerhardt-Zuniga, Robert J. Gerhardt, IV, Emma K. Gerhardt, Reagan Gerhardt, Alexandria Thomas, and a great-grandson on the way. He was also preceded in death by two sisters Patricia Lykins and Joanne Molck.
A visitation is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Webster Funeral Home, 3080 Homeward Way in Fairfield. A Masonic Service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by an Eastern Star service.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial to follow with full military honors in Rose Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made to The Ohio Masonic Home, 2655 West National Road, Springfield, Ohio 45504.
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