Gary J. Gertner

Gary Joseph Gertner, 67, passed away on March 14, 2026, from prolonged illness. 

He is survived by his daughters Deanne Gertner, Meredith Gertner, and Michaela (Justen) Barela; grandson Michael Barela; sister Lori (Ron) Garofalo; brother Doug (Kathy) Gertner; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Gary spent his career helping young people in juvenile detention centers, children’s mental health facilities, and education—most notably at Mullen High School. He coached track and field, football, and powerlifting for decades, positively influencing many students and athletes.

 A private funeral will be held for family; his daughters will host a public memorial at the Mullen Chapel at Mullen High School on April 25th at 9 am.

 Please consider donating to Feed the Children (feedthechildren.org) in lieu of sending flowers.