Gerard Yu was a great husband, a warm and caring father, a great physician and educator. Gerard possessed all of these wonderful qualities. I can't speak, quantitatively about his attributes as a husband and father, but I know how hard he tried to balance his ever-so-busy professional life with his intense devotion to Barb, Jason, Ashley, Nicole, Cheryl, and Sandra.

I can however speak of this consummate professional surgeon, teacher and educator. My first encounter with him was a question I once asked Dalton McGlamry, our institute founder and mentor, "What's so great abut this "Yu" kid? Why should he be accepted to the Doctor's Hospital residency? For those who don't know this program is and was the most prestigious podiatric surgical residency in the United States. Well he said, "I'm sure his grades are top" (as they were) but this kids got character. He stayed at my home last night, woke up early, made his bed, and sat at the breakfast table to talk to "grandma." Well I said (tongue in check) I'm sure that qualifies him for the spot.

Well retrospectively, the chief was right, Gerard Yu was entirely about character. He exemplified the best character and integrity of any resident we've graduated to date. He rapidly became a rising star shining brightly over our profession. Spending countless amounts of time publishing, speaking, and teaching throughout the world. He, like Albert Einstein, understood that to see further, one had to stand on the shoulders of giants. He continued to perch on the shoulders of his teachers, men like John Ruch and E. Dalton McGlamry to name a few.

He became a giant himself and understood that the greatest gift he as a teacher could achieve was to produce pupils greater than he. He actively positioned himself at O.C.P.M., St. Vincent's Charity Hospital and Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, and began teaching his future rising stars. I know his former residents and current pupils will feel a profound void, which he would implore them to fill quickly, with hope and knowledge.
They say that memory is a notoriously biased and sentimental editor, but there will be no bias in our memories of Gerard. They are all good fragrant and sweet. When in his presence, you felt a concise and warm concern on his part. His time with you, sometimes short and reflective of the extremely busy man he was, however, was sincere. When speaking to you, he made you feel as if you were the only person in the room. He delivered his thoughts succinctly and agreed or disagreed respectfully with yours. There was no patronizing with him. He told you what he thought and how he would attack the issues "period."

He always ended with a broad and sincere smile. You just had to love the guy. I can't help you deal with this loss, as its newness is overwhelming and unexplainable to me. Man makes plans and God makes hard decisions. I only know that our profession, and the Podiatric.

Institute and its extensive faculty will never forget Gerard. There will not be a day that we don't think of his spectacular witty and highly informative lecture style. We can only ask you to try and emulate his integrity, his professionalism, and his warmth when you are dealing with your patients and colleagues.

GOODBYE GERARD YU AND GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL, REST IN PEACE.

Stanley Kalish DPM
Atlanta, GA