Obituary of Steve Bruce Gerow

The Santa Cruz birding community has lost our dear friend and mentor Steve Gerow. He was a faithful pillar of the Santa Cruz Bird Club for 40 years holding numerous Officer positions, helping out with bird surveys, leading his Famous Friday Field trips and maintaining the County Bird Records for posterity. Steve lived most of his adult life on the Westside of Santa Cruz and the last three years in the Prospect Heights neighborhood. Because he didn't own a car he walked everywhere. Even if you didn't personally know him, you probably noticed him walking along West Cliff, Natural Bridges, Bethany Curve, Neary Lagoon, Arana Gulch and De Laveaga wearing one of his plaid shirts with a pair of binoculars slung around his neck. Steve was born in Salinas to Bruce and Eva Marie on July 8, 1956 and died at his home in Santa Cruz on May 10, 2017 surrounded by friends. He was an only child so his friends are his surviving family. Steve graduated from Palma High School in Salinas in 1974, attended Hartinell College in Salinas and UC Santa Cruz, graduating in 1978 with a BA in History. Although bird watching was his passion, Steve earned his living working in restaurants. He started out as a dishwasher at Omei, worked at The Whole Earth on the UCSC campus from 1983 until its closing in 2001 and at Cafe Brazil from 2001 until 2015 when he had to retire because of his health. Steve didn't want a memorial service. Plans are pending for a potluck picnic where everyone is happy and enjoying nature. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Steve, please direct it to the Santa Cruz Bird Club, P O Box 1304, Santa Cruz CA 95060 or to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, 617 Water Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060.