Frederick Christopher Gernhard 88, passed away Thursday, (August 15th, 2024) at the Veterans Administration Hospital in WRJ VT after a short illness. He was born December 26, 1935 in Norwich CT, the son of the late Joseph A. and Dorothy S. (Kendall) Gernhard, the fifth of eleven children. He attended the Salem CT School Systems and Norwich Free Academy.

Fred joined the US Marines and became a heavy truck driver and mechanic. He was stationed in Camp Legeune NC and did a tour of duty in Viesques PR, about which many stories where told over the years. This included meeting Richard Pushee who would someday introduce him to his future wife, Irene Dorothy Pushee (Dotty). After his tour in the marines Fred was employed by Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Company making aircraft engine parts in their East Hartford CT plant. Fred married Dotty in September of 1957 and after a short stay in Connecticut, they moved to Dotty’s home town of Lyme NH. Together they raised four boys in their Lyme home. Fred and Dotty were married for 63 years until her passing in 2020.

Fred worked for Nichols Hardware in Lyme as a coal truck driver, then as a machinist for the newly formed Thermodynamics Company making parts for plasma torches. After this, Fred was hired by the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) as a machinist where he worked over 30 years, retiring as the head of the machine shop. Fred can be found on the CRREL Wikipedia page with Charles J. Korhonen for developing a device that rapidly repairs blisters on built-up roof membranes.

Fred loved playing Lyme Green softball, as testified by his missing two front teeth, deep sea fishing with his brothers and getting his garden in before his in-laws. He was baptized at Thetford Baptist Church with his wife Dotty in the Godfrey’s Pond on a hot summer day. His big adventures came when his oldest son Chris would take Fred and Dotty globe trotting to Europe, Central America and Hawaii. Fred always boasted about the fact that in seventy-one years of driving he was never given a traffic citation.

Fred is survived by his children Chris Gernhard of Novato CA, Doug Gernhard of Lyme NH, Jerry Gernhard of Mechanicsburg VA and Tim Gernhard of Indianapolis IN. He is also survived by his siblings Henry, William, Daniel, Evelyn and Patsy. Additionally, he has a large number of Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held at his home at 74 N Thetford Rd in Lyme NH on Saturday, August 24th between 10:00 and 11:00am. Memorial service and reception will follow, also at the Lyme residence. Internment will take place at the Lyme Highland Cemetery after the Memorial Service and prior to the Reception.

The Rand-Wilson Funeral Home in Hanover, NH is assisting the family.

 

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