Deborah Ann Gerlach, a tough cookie
Deborah Ann Gerlach, 68, of Rehoboth Beach passed away the morning of Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 2020. Born June 16, 1952, Deborah was the widow of Charles Bagley; daughter of Virginia Nardiello and Ralph Gerlach, who both predeceased her, and sister to Linda Newby who predeceased her as well.
She is survived by sisters: Barbara (Gerlach) Meeks of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Meg (Gerlach) Goodrich with her husband John Goodrich of Fishkill, N.Y. She is also survived by her dear friend, Shirley Wright of Lewes; and nephews: Jim Murray, Glenn Murray, David Meeks, Jeff Vachna, Kyle Vachna, John Vachna Jr., having been predeceased by nephew Daryl Vachna. Her niece Nikki Gray survives her, along with seven grandnephews and one grandniece, as well as her two loving dogs, Angel and Cinnamon.
Deborah was a 1970 graduate of Port Chester High School and the data processing program of BOCES in New York. She worked for several companies throughout her long, successful career; the most prominent among them being IBM and the Bell Telephone Company, where she excelled as a technical program analyst and programmer. As a worker in New York City during the horrific assault on Sept. 11, 2001, Deb was an avid supporter of all first responders. She was a true pathfinder as she blazed a trail, navigating through the male-dominated corporate scene, an outstanding figure in the workforce. She was also an extremely talented seamstress, and an award-winning competitive ballroom dancer. She played piano and flute, and was a devoted animal lover who donated heavily to the Brandywine Valley SPCA in New Castle, where they dedicated their adoption lobby to Deb’s adopted Angel and Cinnamon. Deb was also a great aunt who loved having fun with and spoiling her nephews. She enjoyed great friendships within her “Blue Dot Family,” whose members she loved deeply, and was loved deeply in return. Deborah had been able to make a multi-state journey to visit with some of her favorite friends on what she called “The Blue Dot Angel Tour” in 2019.
Deborah was a tough cookie, whose loving heart was driven by her firm beliefs, and her love of family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all.
Deb’s request to have her body donated to science at the Maryland Anatomy Board has been fulfilled. The family will be holding their own private video conference memorial, but remembrances can be left at the website of Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium in Lewes, www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to local SPCAs or any other accredited animal rescue organization.
