Philip Harrison Gerner, Jr. (Phil), beloved son, husband, brother, uncle, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at age 94 on Monday, February 19, 2024, in Fairport, near Rochester, NY. Phil was born on January 27, 1930, to Mildred (Dorries) and Philip Harrison Gerner, Sr., in Buffalo, New York, making him the younger brother to Liz. As a youth, Phil enjoyed sailing and fishing on Lake Erie at his parents’ summer home which was across the Peace Bridge from Buffalo in Rosehill, Ontario. His family moved to Rochester in 1942 where his father was a founding partner in a stock brokerage firm. Phil went to the Allendale School and excelled at sports, especially baseball, and even batted against future Hall of Fame pitcher Johnny Antonelli.
After he graduated high school in 1947, he attended the University of Rochester, majored in economics, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1951. He then enlisted in the US Marine Corps and went through boot camp at Camp Lejeune and officer training in Quantico, VA. Phil served two years as a First Lieutenant. His service to his country meant a great deal to him. Phil often teared up when singing patriotic songs and he always loved to fly the American flag.
After completing his Marine Corps service, Phil moved to New York City to work for a brokerage firm on Wall Street. He met his beloved wife of 58 years, Barbara Cook (Bobbie), who beautifully emerged from behind her roommate (according to Phil) when Phil was searching for an apartment in Manhattan. Phil and Bobbie were married in Bobbie’s hometown of Summit, New Jersey, in 1954. Phil and Bobbie moved to an apartment in NYC, and their first child, Philip, was born in 1955. Two years later, their second child, Peter, was born. Phil continued to work on Wall Street until 1958. In 1959, the family moved to Pittsford, New York, and Phil joined the brokerage firm of George D.B. Bonbright & Company as a partner and stockbroker. When his firm merged with E.F. Hutton in 1973, he became a Vice President and served in that role until his retirement in 1988.
In Pittsford, Bobbie gave birth to two daughters: Patti (1961) and Pam (1963). Phil referred to his daughters as his “little angels.” He loved listening to them sing “Edelweiss” and watching them perform at their concerts and shows. Phil enjoyed golfing with Philip and coaching his Little League baseball teams. Phil also loved playing board games with his family and relished games such as Skittles, where players spun wooden tops and knocked down pieces for points. Virtually every weekend, Phil planned a family event or trip and explained the “itinerary” (like a military field general) to the family at Friday evening’s dinner. There were downhill skiing days at Snow Ridge, Holiday Valley, Swain, Bristol, and Ski Valley; hiking trips to Letchworth and Stony Brook state parks; cross-country skiing days at Powder Mills Park; and trips to Canandaigua Lake and Naples to see the fall colors.
In 1967, Phil bought a beautiful old wooden Lyman motorboat and named it “Bonnie Bright” after his brokerage firm, and the family spent many weekends that summer boating on Canandaigua Lake. Phil and Bobbie bought a cottage on the east side of the lake the following year where the family then lived every summer. Phil became an avid and daring slalom water skier, often starting by shouting, “Hit it!,” and leaping off the dock on one ski as the boat took off. He had fun boating, skiing, sailing, and swimming with his family. Phil also loved fishing, spending many early mornings catching bass off the high banks at the south end of the lake. Phil and Bobbie enjoyed golf and tennis with friends at the Country Club of Rochester (CCR) and various courses and courts in and around Canandaigua. Phil made many longtime friends on the golf course, was overly modest about his ability (he “shot his age” at 77), and always credited his partners’ talents when he won best ball and invitational events at CCR.
Phil had a strong Christian faith, and the family went to church on Sundays, initially at the Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester and later at First Presbyterian Church in Pittsford. Phil enjoyed singing the traditional church hymns, taught his children the value of prayer, and actively lived his Christian beliefs, always seeking ways to help others he knew were less fortunate. On one occasion, Phil and his son drove into a neighborhood in downtown Rochester, knocked on a home’s front door, asked if one of the kids wanted Philip’s old bicycle, and then helped the boy take it for a test ride. Phil loved listening to the Tabernacle Choir, first on the radio with Bobbie, and later on television. He continued that tradition his entire life.
Phil served as a long-term Rotarian and was active as Director and President of the Rochester Rotary Service Foundation. Phil was particularly involved with the Rotary Sunshine Camp. He was also on the Board of Directors at the Rochester Humane Society at Lollypop Farm and spent many days with his family at the camp and at the farm.
After Phil retired in 1988, he and Bobbie built a home on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia. Phil and Bobbie split their time between Canandaigua Lake and Skidaway Island for twenty wonderful years. When his grandchildren visited the island, he would take them fishing, golfing, and “hunting” for alligators in his golf cart, always with Holly, his faithful cocker spaniel, riding beside him. Phil treasured time with his children and grandchildren and always asked them about their interests and pursuits. Phil and Bobbie moved to Ferris Hills in Canandaigua in 2008 and made new and very dear friends there.
Over the years, he enjoyed traveling with Bobbie, had many loyal and close friends, loved to socialize and tell stories, and was passionate about his favorite sports teams which he referred to as “my Bills and Braves” as if he were the owner. He was modest and gracious to a fault (very much like his mother, Mildred), honest and direct (like his father, Phil, Sr.,), and never took himself too seriously. Phil was optimistic, always hopeful and looking for the silver lining, guided by his faith that everything would work out in the end. He was kind and considerate, very interested in others, and a true gentleman. Phil left a legacy of countless memories for those of us who were lucky enough to spend time with him. He will be deeply missed.
Philip H. Gerner, Jr., was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Philip Gerner, his wife, Barbara, his son, Peter, and his sister, Elizabeth Naramore. He is survived by his son, Philip (Carol) Gerner, daughters, Patti (Stockton) Wood and Pam (Andy) Ernst, and six grandchildren, Kevin (Saron) Gerner, Duncan Wood, Tommy (Kelley) Ernst, Brian Gerner, Rebecca Wood, and Julia Ernst.
Memorial Service at Edgewood Church in Pittsford Saturday August 31 at 1:00 PM at the Edgewood Church Chapel located at 111 East Jefferson Road, Pittsford, NY 14534.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp (www.sunshinecamp.org), Lollypop Farm (https://www.lollypop.org) and Golisano Children’s Hospital (www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital).