Richard Allan Gerber

Richard Allan Gerber (1937-2026) was an academic, a musician, and a funny dude with riz. After several years with dementia, he died peacefully at his home, Saturday, August 15, 2026, surrounded by his children, John and Elaine.

Richard was a University of Michigan alum and rabid fan (Go Blue!). He grew up attending Central High School in Philadelphia and Mumford HS in Detroit, before getting his B.A. and then his Ph.D. from Michigan in1967. He was a devoted and creative teacher and an impressive scholar. He had a long career as a history professor at Southern Connecticut State University, Charter Oak State College, and Lehman College in NYC, and as an administrator at Stockton University in NJ and ECSU. He was the author of 5 scholarly books, including The System: The American Constitution in Historical Perspective and most recently Welcoming Ruin: The Civil Rights Act of 1875. Richard was self-taught on both the clarinet and piano. He improved dixieland jazz by ear, played in multiple bands, and taught his children to love classical music. He always had a funny joke to lighten the mood, and would want us to laugh with him now. May his memory be a blessing.

A service for Richard will be held at Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford CT, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 11:00.