Igor Dexter “Duke” Gerhardt, 85, died surrounded by his family on January 11, 2021. He was born in Richmond, VA, on September 26, 1935. He attended Washington-Lee H.S. in Arlington, VA, and graduated in 1953. After completing one year of college at the Citadel, in Charleston, SC, he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. He then graduated with a B.S. in Engineering and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army in 1959.
He completed Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, and the Basic and Advanced Infantry Officer courses. His military assignments included three years as a Platoon Leader, three years as a Special Forces A Team Commander, five months at the Armed Forces Staff College, two years at USC for his M.S. degree, two years in Vietnam, four years in NATO, and five years as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at West Point.
Among his many military awards are the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with V for Valor and 2 oak leaves, Purple Heart, Air Medal with V for valor and numeral 3, Army Commendation Medal with 2 V’s for valor and 3 oak leaves, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
In 1992, he founded a company named DG Associates that supported Redstone Arsenal and local aerospace companies with graphics, video productions, briefings, program planning and development. He was also a consultant to SM&A in Los Angeles for teaching companies how to prepare and present oral proposals to Government agencies.
His hobbies included coaching diving, water aerobics, writing, photography, architectural and graphic design, and Sudoku.
Duke retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after 22 years of service. He was a resident of Huntsville, AL, for the past 39 years. He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Brigitte; his daughters; Kerri Michaels of Nashville, TN, Jaclyn Gerhardt of Huntsville, AL, and Lisa Gerhardt of Huntsville, AL; his son, David Gerhardt of Huntsville, AL; and grandson, Adam Gerhardt.
A celebration of life will be held at Laughlin Service Funeral Home on Friday, January 15, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
