March 20, 1923 �" June 13, 2008
Elwood Burton (Burt) Gerrits died at his home in Oakland on June 13. A native of South Dakota, Burt first moved to the Bay Area in 1941. During WWII, Burt served in the Navy. Burt�s recollections of Navy life as a gay man were included in Allan B�rub��s book Coming Out Under Fire.
Burt taught in public schools for 35 years, the last 33 in Piedmont. He retired in 1983. Burt was active in many LGBT organizations and events, including the GLBT Historical Society, East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club, 1984 National March, 1987 and 1992 Marches on Washington, UC Gay & Lesbian Alumni, BANGLE, Mobilization Against AIDS, first office manager of the Parade in 1978-79 and Pacific Center (switchboard counselor and speaker�s bureau).
In addition, Burt was a long-time docent at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. Burt practiced Transcendental Meditation for many years. He hosted an East Bay Gay & Lesbian sangha group.
Burt is survived by his brother Russ of San Jose, numerous nieces, nephews and many life-long friends. Burt touched and enriched the lives of so many people.