- Gerry Bertier played High School Football and led the T.C. Titans to the 1971 Virginia State Championship.
- The long-dead actor is still important many decades after his death for his skill and strong desire to impact the lives of others.
- Though he died at the age of 27, Gerry achieved his childhood dream of winning an Olympic Gold medal.
Gerry Bertier was an American high school athlete and Olympic medalist. He rose to the top to become one of the legends of teams like the T.C. Titans through hard work and facing undaunting challenges. Though he lived a short life for athletes, he is still considered an important person despite the many decades after his death.
The details about his life are filled with tragedy and the rise above the challenges that life threw at him. Let’s dig in to find out who this great athlete was and all the fascinating details about him.
Who Is Gerry Bertier?
He was an athlete and footballer who made a name for himself following his dreams. He started nursing the dream of becoming a great athlete right from an early age. His big dream was to compete and win a gold medal at the Olympics.
Gerry William Bertier was born on August 20th, 1953 in Alexandria, Alexandria City Virginia. His only known sibling is his sister, Becky Britt.
He started captivating the attention of many right from when he was a high school at T.C. Williams. After High School, he attended Northern Virginia Community College.
Did You Know All These Fascinating Facts About Gerry Bertier?
1. His Parents Divorced when Gerry was still Little
His parents divorced right from when he was eight years old. From then onwards, his mother took over raising him all by herself.
After years of being alone, Gerry’s mother moved on with her life by getting married to Robert Agnew.
2. Gerry Bertier Early Career
Not regarding how his life started without a father figure in his life, the future medalist started following his dreams at a young age. He was an active football player playing defense for Drummond C. High school.
He became a linebacker in his Sophomore year earning him lots of honors. His position was soon under fire due to racial tension after the school was merged with others.
In 1971, he was one of the T.C. Titans that secured the championship for T.C. Willaims High School at the Virginia State Championships.
After that event, many gave the rising star keen attention. Yet, the attention shifted to the career-threatening event that happened to him.
3. How Gerry Bertier Became Paralysed
He was involved in an accident not long after the 1971 season. The accident happened on December 11, 1971 while on his way back from a banquet held in honor of the team.
Gerry crashed his mother’s new 1971 Chevrolet Camaro after losing control of the vehicle. Attempts to relieve pressure on his spine by the doctors were not successful leading to his paralysis.
4. The Former Linebacker worked for Abbey Medical
The accident did not discourage him from living a normal life. To support himself, Gerry worked for Abbey Medical as a sales manager. His work there gave him the opportunity to pursue his athletic career in Wheelchair events.
He also worked with other disabled people by organizing and giving talks. Gerry organized many schools in Virginia to participate in the Walk For Mankind event. He also helped in establishing the Northern Virginia Recreation Association for the Disabled in 1980.
See Also: 10 Best Olympians Of All Time- Interesting Details About Each Of Them
5. Gerry Bertier Won an Olympic Gold Medal
Not one to give up on life, Gerry started pursuing his dreams by changing the path. He competed in wheelchair events like wheelchair basketball, wheelchair track and field, and United States Paralympics.
Looking at his life course at this time, it is a path towards his dream of competing in the Olympics. His lifetime coach was Bill Yoast and together, they participated in different tournaments.
Gerry’s dream of winning a gold medal came true after he won an Olympic Gold Medal in shot put.
6. The Truth Behind the Death of Gerry Bertier
The former Titan linebacker’s life was cut short after another accident in 1981. This time around, Gerry’s car collided with another one that had crossed over the centerline.
Despite all attempts to resuscitate him, he did not survive. Gerry Bertier died on March 20, 1981, about two hours after the accident at the University of Virginia hospital. He was 27 years old at the time of his death.
A man was later charged with manslaughter for Gerry’s death. Investigations showed the man, whose name is not revealed was driving under the influence at the time of the accident.
Gerry Bertier was laid to rest at Mount Comfort Cemetery, Fairfax County, Virginia.
7. He is Still Remembered as a Great Athlete
Gerry and his T.C. Titans not only face the racial problems of the time, but they had to face their opponents to secure the trophy for T.C. Williams. He contributed 142 tackles, 42 sacks, and great skill to the team in the 1970 state championships.
Apart from his High school career, the former titan was a force in the Paralympics.
These are some of his honors and records:
- He won an Olympic Gold Medal in Shot put
- Gerry was named National Prep School Football Player of the Year
- Received First Team All-Region
- Named for All-State
- Was Given an All-American Title
- He set a Record for Longest Distance at the World’s Wheelchair Marathon
8. His Life Inspired the Movie Remember the Titans
Long after the Titans won the Virginia State Championship in 1971, the lives of the key players inspired a movie that outlived Gerry and others. The film titled, Remember The Titans is a close screening of Gerry’s life and other members of his team.
The 2000 film was directed by Boaz Yakin while Ryan Hurst portrayed the character of Gerry in the Disney production and to this day, many esteem the movie highly.
Apart from Gerry’s life being portrayed on the screen, Remember The Titans is a good movie that captures the challenges of racism and integration in the History of America. However, many facts about the movie are not as accurate as real-life events.
9. Gerry and Julius’s Friendship lasted their Lifetime
The Titans Captain, Gerry could not have motivated his teammates to give their best performance without the cooperation of Julius Campbell, a black player on the team. Having moved beyond the initial setbacks, Gerry and Julius remained lifelong friends even outside High school football.
10. Gerry Bertier has left many Legacies
The Paralympian died at a young age in 1981, yet, his life remains a lesson to many. His many legacies are still felt. His sister continued Gerry’s work with the paralyzed by founding the Bertier #42 Foundation in 2006.
Interestingly, the foundation raises funds for research on spinal cord injuries. Proceeds from their various fundraisers were channeled to the Spinal Cord InjuryRehabilitation and Research Center of Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.
At the moment, funds are raised through golf tournaments like that of 2007 held at Cannon Ridge Golf Club in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
