While wearing his green shirt for St. Patty’s day, and sitting in a plush chair, there was a twinkle in the man’s eyes.

This man is Gerry Esker, who shared his experiences regarding “The Great Crash” and the years that followed.

Growing up, he was not sheltered from the harsh effects of reality. In fact, he grew up in a family of eight, barely scraping by with the little that they had. “When I was growing up, we had practically nothing income-wise,” Esker said. 

However, his Catholic faith has helped him cope with his hardships. From a young age, he was involved in religious activities. He and his siblings were taught catechism. After high school he was immediately drafted for service but was discharged a year and a half later due to injured feet from training.

Within several months of recovery, he was dismissed and jobless.  “It was pretty rough … You just took whatever work you got.” He later found a job in engineering, developing the first tubeless tire as a “flunkie.” He eventually landed a job with B.F. Goodrich, where he felt he had contact withother groups.  He received payments of $149 a week and a promotion of $100 each month. “So we didn’t get much to live on, but that was just the way it was.”

In five years time, he and his wife saved enough money to purchase a home. From then on, he found himself joining the St. Mary’s Dining Room, Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, and other religious organizations. He strived to be an example, instilling religious morals in his four children. “We saw to it that they received their training.” Esker has endured struggles in his life but made religion and his children his biggest priority.