The Reverend Dr. Neil Gerdes—librarian, professor, and beloved counselor to two generations of seminarians—died on 6 November 2016 at the age of 73.
Neil Wayne Gerdes was born in Moline, Illinois, on 19 October 1943 to Della Bennett Ferguson Gerdes and John Edward Gerdes. He earned a B.A. from the University of Illinois, an S.T.B from Harvard, masters degrees from both Columbia University (NY) and University of Chicago, and a D.Min. from the University of St. Mary of the Lake (Mundelein IL).
The focus of Neil’s ministry was his 40-year tenure as theological educator and librarian at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. The Rev’d Dr. Lee Barker, Meadville president, described Neil as “…a wonderful mentor to students, a lover of books and information, … an erudite conversationalist, a man of very goofy humor, and a champion for liberal theological education… The school has lost one of its giants.”
Shortly after Neil’s death, tributes poured in. Several Meadville alums praised the generosity of his personal presence, calling him “the soul of the school.” The Rev’d Jackie Ziegler recalled that Neil “led a group of Meadville Lombard seminarians interested in discovering how we could create a model of spiritual direction within the frame of Unitarian Universalism’s diverse theologies/philosophies. We were told it wasn’t possible – practical – but Neil showed us a way.”
He is survived by four sisters and two generations of nieces and nephews.