Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

Ted Gerow grew up wanting to do one thing: Music. So he did, a keyboardist with The Staccatos, which morphed into the original Five-Man Electrical Band. Their hit song Signs became a gold record. On every one of their album covers, he’s always the geekiest-looking one, somehow. (And yes, his hair remained that fabulously thick until his dying day.)

He stayed with the band the longest of the original members, retiring only a few years ago.

Ted also loved producing music. If you want to check out his musical career, they have a good write up at the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. (He played classical rock, but he produced some country songs as well.)

For me, Ted Gerow was Kerri’s beloved uncle. I saw him play once in Ottawa (so much fun!), but mostly I saw him for family occasions, where he was always happy to be with loved ones. At Christmas, whenever he’d get a gift (and he received many), he’d always look surprised and say, “For me?” or “Oh, really? Again?”

We always looked forward to that reaction.

He made the best sweet and sour soup I’ve ever had, and loved puttering in the kitchen, cooking while listening to music.

We chatted music and creating. He loved classical music, and so did I, so we often shared ensembles and renditions we enjoyed. He spent days watching videos of other bands and listening to music.

He loved music and dedicated his life to it.

A year ago, there were signs that he was ill, but they started when his wife of over fifty years was headed for her final number, so he ignored them. A wonderful team of doctors and nurses did what they could, but by the time the cancer was discovered, little could be done except buy him a bit more time.

Even as he grew sicker and cancer slowly invaded every organ, he still laughed a lot and, when things stopped being fun, it was like he decided it was time to go, and he let the cancer carry him away quickly. Massive thanks to the wonderful staff of the Civic Hospital for making his final days peaceful.

He was not alone when he went, with his sister (Kerri’s mom, Vicki) and son, Chris, in the room with him. Kerri and I were in our basement, dealing with a flood (when it rains, it pours, literally), but he knew he was loved.

Today is a beautiful day to enjoy Five-Man classic songs again, or to discover them for the first time.

And to hug your loved ones, as always.

Safe journeys, Ted. You will be greatly missed, and your music will live on.