Howard Gersch

On June 20th 2018, Howard Gersch passed away at home at the age of 71 after a more then 20 year battle with a rare degenerative neurological illness. He is survived by his wife of 49 years Helene Gersch, his daughter Allison Gersch, and his son Michael Gersch who is married to Sarah Gersch and their four grandchildren Zoe, Landon, Leilu, and Noah. He is also survived by his sister-in law Barbara. Howard was born on August 18th, 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland to his parents Albert and Sarah Gersch. He grew up in Baltimore and graduated from Woodlawn Senior High School in 1964. Then he went to University of Maryland School of Engineering where he graduated first in his class in Chemical Engineering in 1968. He married the love of his life Helene on June 25th 1969. After getting his first jo with Conoco, they moved to Oklahoma then to Wilmington, Delaware then Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before settling down in Clear Lake City a suburb of Houston, Texas. He worked as chemical engineer for ARCO Chemical which later became Lyondell for more then 30 years. He greatly enjoyed his work designing and working on chemical plants. He travelled the world working for that company with assignments in Japan, Korea, Boston, Holland and London. He retired from Lyondell on disability in 2000 when his neurological symptoms prevented him form being able to work. Howard loved tennis, sailing, running, traveling, working as an engineer and cooking for his friends and family. After his illness took these things from him around the year 2000, he kept his mind occupied by playing bridge and constructing magnificent creations out of Legos. He loved his friends and family and was deeply devoted to his pets especially his King Charles Cavalier Spaniel Abbie. Throughout his 20 year battle with a rare degenerative neurological condition, his friends and family were consistently amazed by the way he maintained a positive mental attitude and a wonderful sense of humor in the face of such adversity. Howard Gersch believed in and enjoyed giving to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and to Houston Public Television. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the SPCA or Houston Public Television.

Howard Gersch

August 18, 1946 - June 20, 2018