Obituary for Romelia Gerhart

Romelia “Romy” Gerhart, 83 a resident of Tucson, AZ passed away Friday, April 07, 2023.

Romelia was born May 10, 1939, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, MX and raised in El Paso, TX where she lived with her parents Jose Macias, Consuelo Rivera Macias, her brothers; Raul Ricardo Macias, Jose Macias and her sister Guadalupe Macias (Casavantes). Romelia attended school in El Paso and graduated from the Loreto Academy.Shortly after graduation, Romy worked as a secretary for the El Paso School System.

In 1966 Romy met her future husband Raul (Skip) Gerhart who was a US Border Patrol Agent in Yuma, AZ. Skip had been a close friend and coworker there with Romy’s brother, Raul Ricardo Macias and was introduced to Romy by her brother in early 1966. A long-distance courtship between Yuma and
El Paso followed and Romy and Skip were married on May 7, 1966. They then moved to Chula Vista, CA where their three kids were born.

In 1972 Skip accepted a position as U.S. Customs Attache at the American Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. The family packed up and moved to Colombia, where Romy was, as always, a great help to Skip with her winning personality and mastery of the Spanish Language.

In late 1974 the family moved to Nogales, AZ where they lived until 1975, when they were again transferred, this time to Mexico City, MX. Once again Romy’s help in dealing with this new venture helped smooth the transition. Romy became active in the Embassy Wives Group while participating in the kids’ school Spanish programs and learning to drive in the Mexico D.F. traffic.

In 1979 Romy and Family left Mexico for a new Customs assignment in Tucson, AZ. In Tucson Romy became employed as a freelance interpreter/translator (Spanish/English), and after attending the Summer Institute for Court Interpreters, she worked as an interpreter at the Tucson City Court System until severe health issues forced her to retire.

After several months of struggling with worsening dementia, Romy mercifully passed away at the Casa del Sol hospice facility in Tucson. Romy is survived by her husband of 57 years, Raul (Skip) Gerhart, her three children, Stephen Gerhart, Marguerite Gerhart-Boscarino and Daniel Gerhart and her seven grandchildren: Daniela Boscarino, Sofia Gerhart, Isabella Gerhart, Julia Boscarino and Victoria Boscarino, Kayli Boscarino and Andrea Boscarino.
Additionally, Romy’s immediate family includes her sister Guadalupe Casavantes, brothers Raul Ricardo Macias, son- in-law Anthony Mark Boscarino and daughter-in-law, Kimberly Gerhart.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. with the Holy Rosary and at 10:00 a.m. the Funeral Mass at St. Mark Catholic Church, 2727 W. Tangerine Road, Oro Valley, AZ. 85742.