Tyler Gerth

Tyler Gerth was a beloved son, cherished little brother, adored uncle and a trusted friend. A graduate of Trinity High School (2011) and the University of Kentucky (2016), Tyler was a lifelong learner and held many passions in addition to his corporate career in quality assurance with Papa John’s. Tyler loved watching movies; listening to his vast and diverse record collection, traveling and exploring new places; learning about history through both genealogy research as well as biographies & documentaries; playing and watching a variety of sports; and spending time with family and friends. Tyler was creative, inquisitive, gentle, tenacious, and so very brave. He played the ukulele, had a thriving garden, loved to play with his nieces and nephews, constantly wore some sort of silly socks (tie dye was his favorite) and is still missed terribly by his precious rescue dog Jordan. 

But you probably wouldn’t have noticed Tyler. You most likely didn’t see him as you waited next to him in the check out line at Kroger, or even looked twice as he pulled up next to you at a stoplight in his old blue truck. He probably didn’t cross your mind a whole lot over the years since he played on your son’s hockey team or took your daughter to prom. And I’m sure you never thought twice about the guy dressed up in that hot, furry Easter bunny costume at your neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Tyler was in most ways, a pretty average guy. He went to work, paid his taxes and enjoyed drinking a beer while cheering on his various favorite sports teams. What was very special about Tyler was the perseverance he showed no matter what life threw at him. The ability to reflect on himself, to humbly admit his mistakes or erroneous ways of thinking. To grow, to change, to mature, to do better. But not just to do better…

“To be excellent to each other”

It was the motto he lived by as he chose to see, and honor the God given beauty, dignity and glory in all the people around him.  Tyler was tragically killed June 27, 2020 taken in the prime of his life while photographing and supporting the movement for racial justice in Louisville, KY. He was incredibly kind, funny, hard working, and exceedingly generous with his time and finances through his many charitable works such as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Holding deep convictions and faith, it was this sense of justice that drove Tyler to be part of the peaceful demonstrations advocating for the destruction of the systematic racism within our society’s systems. 

Tyler desired a world in which the future generation could have equal and equitable access to rights and opportunities and he truly believed as he often quoted Sam Cooke, “a change is gonna come”. We at Building Equal Bridges are determined to continue Tyler’s legacy of fighting social and racial injustice and are committed to seeing that change he gave his life advocating for.

…And remember to thank the guy in the Easter bunny costume, he just might, like our beloved Tyler, be doing it with the sole intent of making his nieces, nephews, and all the other kids smile.