February 6, 2021.
Cathedral High School, El Paso, TX
Assistant Principal
On February 6, 2021, Gerardo “Gerald” J. Gamez, loving husband, father, grandfather “Bamba”, son, brother, uncle, friend and educator, was welcomed into heaven. Gerald’s story began in Ankara, Turkey where he was born on March 29, 1965 to Fernando and Ethel Gamez. Gerald graduated from Hanks High School in 1983. During this time he met his one true love, Teresa. They were high school sweethearts and were married before God, family and friends on June 11, 1988. Gerald adored his wife. Gerald enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1986 and was honorably discharged in 1990. He later graduated from UTEP with Master’s Degrees in Guidance and Counseling and in Educational Administration.
Gerald was a passionate educator and mentor. He started his career as a Special Education teacher in San Elizario. He then became a counselor at Hanks and El Paso High and assistant principal at Eastwood and Del Valle High Schools. He retired from YISD in 2019 and joined Cathedral High School as an assistant principal. Gerald’s greatest love was his family. He and his wife were blessed with three children and a granddaughter. Gerald was also loved by his in-laws, dozens of good friends that were like family and his students. Gerald will be remembered for his profound devotion to his family. He was known as a practical jokester. If he had a smirk on his face, you knew he was up to something. He loved his Dallas Cowboys and believed every year they would win the Super Bowl. Gerald was involved in the ACTS community, Cub Scouts, Special Olympics and SAE Fraternity. Gerald was preceded in death by his father, Fernando Gamez Sr. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Teresa, his children, Brittany, Krystal and Michael, granddaughter, Juliet, mother, Ethel, siblings, Isabel, Patty (Dale) and Fernando Jr. (Verna), several nieces, nephews and his students who loved him. Services will be held on February 18, 2021 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home-East. The family would like to thank the community for their outpouring of love and support. Gerald will be missed tremendously. In the words of Gerald, “It doesn’t matter where you start, it matters where you end up.”