Robert Gerrity

Robert (Bob) Gerrity, 74, of Bellaire, Michigan died peacefully Tuesday, July 2, 2012 at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor after complications from heart surgery. Bob was born in New York City on January 10, 1938 and graduated from Roscoe High School in 1957 in Roscoe, New York. He attended Michigan State University where he met his wife and earned a Bachelor's degree in 1960 and an MBA in 1971. Bob worked in the auto industry for many years in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area including the Ford plants in Dearborn and Saline, Michigan. He also served as CEO President of Ford Brazil in Sao Paulo, Brazil, CEO of Ford-New Holland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Vice Chairman of New Holland in London, England. Bob later applied his expertise by serving as a board corporate director of many companies including Rubbermaid, Libralter Engineering Systems, Birmingham Steel, Poly-air Inter-Pac, Federal Signal Corporation and Standard Motor Products. Since 1969, he has spent his summers at Torch Lake in Michigan. He has a home in Naples, Florida and lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan for many years. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Dorothy "Dottie" (Arnold) Gerrity, their sons Dan Gerrity, Patrick (Lauren) Gerrity, Neil (Holly) Gerrity and their daughter Erin (Barnaby) Fry. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren Caitlin, Connor, Molly, Abigale, Mary and Autumn Gerrity. He is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. A funeral mass will be held at St. Luke the Evangelist in Bellaire, Michigan on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Community Foundation of Collier County, Gerrity Charitable Fund, 2400 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 300, Naples, Florida 34103 or University of Michigan Cardiac Surgery Department, 1000 Oakbrook Suite 100, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. Arrangements are with Mortensen's Funeral Home of Bellaire. Please sign his online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com