Carl Gerhardt died from liver cancer at home on Friday morning, September 2 in the company of Richard Kadel, his life partner of 22 years, and husband since August 6, 2008. His friends Mark Hopke, Wesley Sabren, Julie Brown Modenos, and Peter Gudd attended him during his final days. His mother Ida Sroka, father, as well as all of his brothers and sisters survive him.
Born in Chicago, he worked 22 years for the City of San Francisco at the Department of Social Services, as principal clerk at the Tom Waddell Health Clinic and at the Office of Vital Records. He was Richard's best friend, hero, and Knight in Shining Armor. Carl was well known on Castro Street where his many acquaintances, including local residents, shopkeepers or friends and clients would stop and chat. To walk with Carl in the Castro was to be introduced to a continuous stream of new faces. At Christmas Carl would purchase and distribute hamburgers to people on the street. Carl had a strong sense of justice, spoke truth to power, and would fiercely defend his employees. He is loved and sorely missed. His husband suggests a contribution to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.