By the Gerard family
Louis J. Gerard, Jr. passed away on Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Redding , California, at age 95. Born in Oakland, California, on December 26, 1929, to Louis J. Gerard, Sr. and Gladys Gerard, Lou grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from Sequoia High School in Redwood City, and he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at San Jose State College. Lou worked at the Los Altos School District as a sixth-grade teacher, and he enjoyed several years of service there. It was during this tenure that he caught the eye of kindergarten teacher Diane Binkley. They were married in June 1958 after a short engagement, which turned into a partnership that flourished for 62 years.
In 1959, the couple made the decision to move to Redding, where Lou joined his father in the automobile business, Lou Gerard Motors (Now Crown Motors). Son David was born shortly after the move to Redding, followed by daughters Amy and Alice, and son Bruce.
Lou worked in the family automobile business until his retirement in 1981. Not one to sit still for long, he accepted a long-term substitute teaching position in Cottonwood, just to prove to himself he could still teach! And while he loved his return to the classroom, the Redding Chamber of Commerce had different ideas, and he was recruited to serve as the Executive Director in 1983. He served the Chamber for nearly 10 years, growing the organization’s membership to its highest level in its history. While at the Chamber, he founded Leadership Redding, a program of which he was particularly proud.
Throughout his life, Lou held service to others and education as his constant passions. Alongside his wife, Diane, the couple served Redding area school boards for a combined 89 years. In December 2024, Lou retired from the Shasta Elementary School District Board after 47 years of service. A longtime Rotarian, he joined the Rotary Club of Redding in 1964 and later served as club president and district governor. He was a true believer in Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self.” In the late 1990s, in an early effort to revive the downtown Redding scene, Lou joined with wife, Diane, and other Redding citizens passionate about preserving local history, to rehabilitate and restore the historic Cascade Theatre, for which he served as chairperson of the restoration committee. Lou also enjoyed years of service on the Boards of Mercy Foundation North and the United Way of Northern California, which he found particularly meaningful to the health of the city he loved. Lou and Diane were faithful and longstanding members of All Saints’ Episcopal Church.
Lou is survived by his adult children, David, Amy (John), Alice, and Bruce, and granddaughter, Caroline. He was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Diane. A funeral Mass will be held for Lou at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Drive in Redding. A celebration of life will follow at the Redding Elks Lodge at 250 Elk Drive in Redding. In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to the Lou and Diane Gerard Scholarship fund at the community Foundation of the North State.
