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The passing of a Legend |
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dWood
Postaholic Joined: 8/29/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5110 |
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Posted: 3/08/17 at 12:38pm |
As many of you have heard today-the strength world lost one of its most loved athletes. Gérard Benderoth the Mutant White Rhino or "G" passed away this morning. I had the honor to work with him in the NYPD and both of us decided to enter the Highland games together. We taught each other and trained together for years. He was such a mild mannered big hearted man and the world will be less of a fun place without G. Anyone who ever competed against him in the Scottish Games or strongman(he was great in both as well as a tremendous boxer)knew he had so much compassion for his fellow athletes and always had a smile. Say a prayer for his family as he has 4 young children. Love ya brother!
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JUST BRING IT /
SPEED KILLS..BUT STRENGTH PUNISHES |
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TomLawrence
Postaholic Joined: 1/11/13 Location: Blairsville, GA Status: Offline Points: 2696 |
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Sorry to hear he has passed. I will lift a glass to him today.
Tom |
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Aim high. Stay hungry.
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JUMBO
Senior Member Joined: 9/08/04 Status: Offline Points: 171 |
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So sorry to hear this, thoughts and prayers with his family. Too many great memories of Gerard to recall, but when the shock wears off I'll be back to share a few of those.
RIP Gerard.
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The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can't are both right, which one are you?
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aforman
Newbie Joined: 5/14/13 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Rest In Peace Gerard.
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TheJeff696
Postaholic Joined: 8/17/10 Location: Dover, NH Status: Offline Points: 4599 |
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RIP Gerard, he was an amazing man
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Jeff Kaste
"I think there's a Squatch in these woods..." |
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nesa
Senior Member Joined: 10/22/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 263 |
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WOW! Totally shocked! Prayers to his family. RIP big guy!
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Proud member of "Team Fulsterkur"
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Brian Randell
Senior Member Joined: 3/18/15 Location: Tulsa Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 367 |
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RIP
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Pogany
Newbie Joined: 6/09/14 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 46 |
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Damn ..... sorry to hear this .... he added "fun" and "entertainment" to every game he attended .... and usually passed out any medals he won to the kids in the stands .... I agree, Dan, a true Highland Games legend. RIP
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dWood
Postaholic Joined: 8/29/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5110 |
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ANYONE INTERESTED.....Wake Services-T.J.McGowan & Sons Funeral Home,Garnerville,NY,10923
Sunday 3/12 2pm-4pm & 7pm-9pm Funeral is set for Monday 3/13 1130am @ St Peters Church,Haverstraw, NY
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JUST BRING IT /
SPEED KILLS..BUT STRENGTH PUNISHES |
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dWood
Postaholic Joined: 8/29/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5110 |
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CHANGE OF TIME ON THE WAKE...according to website for TJ McGowans funeral home wake viewing hours are Sunday 3/12 2pm -6pm
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JUST BRING IT /
SPEED KILLS..BUT STRENGTH PUNISHES |
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dWood
Postaholic Joined: 8/29/04 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5110 |
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roth stood 6’ tall and at times could weigh as much as 390lbs, which in today’s standards could dwarf most men; however, this juggernaut of a human was truly larger than life itself. He was a decorated police officer for over 20 years, world renowned athlete and multiple record holder, poetic story teller, great husband, father, and friend. Gerard was nicknamed the “Mutant White Rhino” for obvious reasons. No matter how you would explain to someone his size, everyone would take a step back when they met him in person. He was the type of man people just gravitated towards. At first, they were drawn to his powerful stature and tattoos, but as they would speak with him they immediately knew he was a brilliant man wise beyond his years. He could entertain anyone with a story about Viking lore, his time on the force, or have people in tears with a witty joke. He was a man people just loved to be around. Gerard followed in the footsteps of his father and became a NYC police officer. He was a first responder during the attacks of 9/11 and stood on ground zero for months assisting with the rescue and recovery process. He served the Bronx out of the 44 for many years before moving up to the Haverstraw PD where he recently retired. Gerard was a decorated boxer traveling for many years across the globe to compete in matches with a record of 70-6. He was a finalist in the 1995 super heavyweight Golden Gloves and the gold medalist in the 1995 Empire State Games. He would fight in charity events for the NYPD and was always a showman. For a man of his size his hands were lighting fast and he could hit with the impact of Mack truck. It was during his time boxing in England Gerard proposed to his wife. He was quoted as saying, “I tried to stand when I proposed to Amy, but the love of my wife brought me to my knees in the ring.” He was a world class strongman winning his pro card back in April of 2004 at the Azealia Festival and ranked at one time in the top 10 of the professional strongmen in the USA. He could carry a yolk on his back weighing over 1000lbs and then turn around and help one of his children open a juice box. He was capable of deadlifting over 900lbs for repetitions, benching over 600lbs, pressing 400lbs over his head all while smiling. Surprisingly Gerard was also quick on his feet winning many events where he would have to carry weights across a course for time. On one occasion, he was able to carry a 400lb shield on his chest 100ft in 18 seconds. Gerard was a professional Highland Games athlete setting world records in the weight over the bar event, and was always a crowd favorite in the caber toss (an event where the athlete would lift a tree the size of a telephone and flip I tend over end for accuracy). Much like Gerard himself these events were about overall strength and skill. He was able to throw a 56lb weight over a 17’ bar and was touted as the shortest man in the world to ever clear that height. His world record was at the Loon Mountain games in 2010 where he used a 42lb weight to clear a bar height of 21’. He leaves behind his wife Amy, their four children, and more friends that call him family than any other man that has ever lived. Gerard was a true Viking warrior and if Valhalla truly exists he was brought there on the wings of a Valkyrie. You will be able to find him there, sitting on the right-hand side of Oden who will be asking Gerard for guidance and wisdom and of course a great story. "Crom is strong! If I die, I have to go before him, and he will ask me, 'What is the riddle of steel?' If I don't know it, he will cast me out of Valhalla and laugh at me." ~Conan the Barbarian Gerard’s family will receive friends on Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 2-6 PM at T.J. McGOWAN SONS FUNERAL HOME, 71 N. Central Highway, GARNERVILLE, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Gerard on Monday, March 13 at 11:30 AM at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Haverstraw, NY, with interment to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Haverstraw, NY. |
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JUST BRING IT /
SPEED KILLS..BUT STRENGTH PUNISHES |
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