In Memory of Jerry Williams
I just received word from Donna Webster of the Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club that our friend Jerry Williams passed away June 10th, 2009 as a result of a bike accident in Evanston, IL. Jerry has been a long time cyclist in Las Vegas. He would spend his summers in Evanston, IL and the rest of the year here in Las Vegas.
Jerry was a wonderful man, warm and caring, a true cyclist in every sense of the word. When I first met him, I was riding the Tour de Las Vegas event and I got lost and didn’t have a route sheet. He told me to follow his group…and then he blew me out of the water. He was so fast that I couldn’t keep up and I lost his group too. I will certainly miss him and I am praying for his family in this time of mourning. Jerry…Rest in peace, we will all miss you.
Obituary Posting from the Chicago Tribune:
Gerald O. Williams, 81, loving husband of Joan, nee Kotler; beloved father of Ron (Robin), Gary, Judy (Ollie) Killheffer, Rob (Terri) and Amy (Dick) Franks; fond grandfather of nine. Funeral Services and Interment private. Arrangements by Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 773-736-3833.
Link to the Funeral Home where you can light an online candle to honor Jerry:
http://www.smithcorcoran.com/obits/obituaries.php/obitID/203206
June 9th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
God Bless Jerry and his loved ones. Sorry to hear this news. I want to hug every cyclist out there now.
June 9th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Dear Joan,
I am so sorry to hear about Jerry. I have always loved seeing you both when you came in with your Yorkies and caring for them. I will never forget the conversations we had about cycling and seeing him at the Huntsman Senior Games in Utah. I am so sad to hear about your loss. Give Mitzie and Tammy pats and condolences, too.
Regretfully,
Mark Dolginoff
June 9th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Jerry was always such an inspiration. As fellow Chicagoan, I loved his stories of old Chicago and Skokie. He would always ride long and ride hard, finishing miles ahead of me… I will miss his quiet smile.
He left us doing something he loved, may he rest in peace.
My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends in Chicago.
Margaret
June 9th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
This was a shock to Shawn and I, we too have spent many week-ends riding with Jerry and the goup. He was an inspiration to us and all that knew him. Shawn has ridden the back of Jerry’s wheel a few times.
May God bless his family and hold them near.
Shawn and Cheryl
June 9th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Condolences for his family and those of you who knew him. It sounds like I missed out by not knowing him.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Jerry will certainly be missed. He was an inspiration to us all. I haven’t been in the Club long enough to know all his stories, but I know he loved to ride.
I pray for his wife and relatives for their loss.
A reminder to us all to pay attention out there.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I’ll will miss Jerry, the last time I rode with him was out on the North Shore Drive, he passed me climbing
“Hole 33″ and left me behind. Our prayers are with you, sincerely another rider jimclean
June 9th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
What sadness for the cycling community! My deepest sympathy and prayers to the family. He was always so encouraging to me when I struggled out there on those hills! A very sad day for the Vegas Valley.
A reminder to please ride safe and may the cycling angels watch over us all.
June 9th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
What a shock! I met him for the first time in the photos posted. He left us doing what he loved doing. God Bless you Jerry and to your entire family, you will be missed!
June 9th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
I will never forget when he spoke to us at the rest stop during the Flatlander Ride on a Sunday just a few days before leaving for Illinois. We had a large group that day and I was so glad that we were all ears for what he had to say.
While most of us usually talk about tough hill climbs, head winds, riding strength or lack thereof, etc., Jerry enjoyed talking about what fellow riders did for him, whether it was helping him fix a flat, cleaning and maintaining his bike or just plain friendship. He reiterated that often, and this time was no exception.
Riding fast was never an issue for him, but for the rest of us he often was a sight to behold. He probably had no idea how much of an inspiration he was to us. One day, after we all came down to Blue Diamond from the Overlook in a pace line at speeds reaching 35 mph, Jerry sat down and said he had forgotten Tana’s name again. We talked about all kinds of issues during that rest stop but I never heard him say a word about the fast pace we had, or that we were faced with a head wind and a long ascent going back home.
Jerry, thanks for the memorable moments I had with you.
Rest in peace,
Richard
June 9th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I met Jerry on one of the first LVVBC club rides that I went on. He really was a teriffic rider even though he would hang near the back of the group because of his hearing problem. I rode many miles with him at my usual position as ride SAG at the rear of the group. Sometimes he would get impatient and rocket up to the front without a problem. He would show up on club ride days when the weather or winds would make it questionable as to whether we would or wouldn’t go out. Jerry was so dedicated that he would still get out on the bike as long as there was even one other person to ride with. As a Senior Olympics Participant and Senior Tri Athelete he was a great inspiration to all of us. At our after ride gatherings he would visit and have some wonderful stories and rememberances to tell us about.
As Vice President and Past President of the Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club I send our deepest condolences to Jerry’s wife and family. Jerry will definitely be very missed by our club and members. It will be so very sad for me not having my friend Jerry back there with me peadling along at the back of the pack.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:07 am
The last time I saw Jerry, he had made arrangemets to buy all of us on the Sunday Flatlander ride, a a drink and bagel at Einsteins Bagels, my daughter and I called out to thank him when he came back to the Coffee shop and his face lit up like a young boy, so full of life.
Our sincere condolences to his family,Jerry will be sorely missed.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
My thoughts and prayers go out to Jerry’s family during this sad time in their lives. I had the honor to ride with Jerry on a couple of group rides……. what an inspiration!! I’m thinking that his spirit is pedaling away.
God bless,
Jim Decker
June 12th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I just met Jerry this year. The first time was a small Wednesday group ride. Jerry and I were the only one’s that took the long ride, so we rode back together rotating the pull the whole way. Jerry was always really fast on the downhill. I was so impressed by Jerry and his story that I invited him as a guest lecturer to my graduate class of occupational therapy students. I asked him to talk about his accident several years ago and how he got back to biking. Well the story started a little earlier than that and we all learned a lot about Jerry. But he really wowed and charmed the whole class - these 20 year olds who for the most part knew they could never keep up with Jerry on a bike. Towards the end of the class someone asked Jerry what he would do if he couldn’t ride anymore. Jerry paused for several seconds and then in a very quiet voice simply said, “I don’t know”. I aspire to be Jerry.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Jerry ROCKED! He taught me that we can all use a few more hugs
Donna Webster
June 13th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Thank you everyone for this look into a part of Grandpa’s life that was so important to him. It’s really neat to hear your stories and kind words. I can easily imagine him in all the experiences you describe. I am sad that he will not be able to attend my wedding in California this September, but I’m proud that he was able to stay so active at his age, and do what he loved right up to the end… I will definitely miss our trips to Vegas, and having him send us off on the latest and craziest thrill rides while he watched:)
June 13th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Jerry was having a very strong ride on June 9. It had been raining earlier and there was still some moisture on the road. At a stop light shortly before the accident, I asked Jerry when he was going to Las Vegas. “October” came the reply.
He will be there in spirit.
George Vandervoort
June 14th, 2009 at 8:08 am
We have many good memories of Jerry on the Sunday Bike rides in Las Vegas and after ride visits at the bagel shop. He had many good stories to share with us. We miss him and the winter rides won’t be the same without him.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Dearest Joan and fellow bike club members,
I was so sorry to hear about Jerry.
I immediately thought about the last time I saw him and the words that we exchanged and the correspondence of the Christmas cards that we sent to each other.
Jerry was standing in line at McGhie’s bike shop in May to pick up his Tour de Summerlin packet. He said, “Linda, we haven’t seen you out biking lately”. I shared with him my troubles with my lower back. He said, “Get back to the pool. Swimming will help your back”.
We had a Halloween party in 2008 and Jerry brought his impressive medal from winning his age group at the Chicago Triathlon which he did annually. He told me that his swim was ok, his bike was good but he had to walk most of the run. I thought to myself, how many octogenarians train and can do an Olympic distance triathlon? His feats were quite impressive.
At Christmas time I looked forward to his card because they always had a nice letter that described the highlights of his year. The card included comments about his Chicago triathlon, his family, and rides and parties that he enjoyed with his bike clubs in Las Vegas and in Illinois.
I had a Las Vegas bike club ride in December that I call, “The holiday cookie ride”. Everyone brings a homemade treat and Jerry brought something special and delicious that Joan made each year. She would carefully attach a copy of the recipe to the container containing the goodies.
There are so many good memories of Jerry. He was an ispiration to me.
Look for me in the pool at Desert Breeze or the LVAC gym now. I’m taking Jerry’s advice and getting back to the pool so I can bike again with the Las Vegas Valley Bike Club.
With deepest sympathy and many good memories,
Linda and Fred Kraus
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Our family thanks all of you for your kind and comforting words posted here. My Dad died doing what he loves. Indeed, it is how he would have chosen to go. I think many of us had a sense that this was coming, especially when you combine the speed and stamina of a 35-40 year old with the reflexes and balance of an 80 year old.
I am thankful for the few rides I enjoyed with the Las Vegas club - several Flatlanders, 2009 Palm Springs, 2008 Tour de Summerlin. I know many of you were looking out for him; I don’t think he ever changed a flat by himself. If I ever get back to Las Vegas with my bike, I will make it a point to join you all again on the Flatlander.
Sincerely,
Ron Williams
June 24th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I am still in shock to learn about Jerry. He was the absolute best and I hope to ride as well as he did and be as full of life as he was when I turn 80. I am so glad I got to see Jerry for my Birthday Dinner in Palm Springs. I will miss him dropping me on Charleston
He was the MAN !!!!
I MISS YOU JERRY !!!!
Asia Garrett
July 1st, 2009 at 11:06 am
I can’t tell you how great it is to read all your comments about my dad. I am so proud of him. Thank you so much for all you did for him and your kind words. I always knew he was amazing and your comments have truly confirmed it. I’m going to miss him with all my heart.
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
How wonderful it is to know that my father was well respected by all of his friends. I certain miss him and am grateful to know that he has passed along his adventurous spirit to many, many others!