Jerry Pagels RIP

[km]

Our friend Jerry Pagels ("ggpagels" here on the bbs) has died at his home in Santa Barbara.

May he rest in peace and find happiness as he moves on to the next world. Goodbye Jerry, we will miss you.

Jerry was a longtime HTR user and he was a maven for the data and truly enjoyed the numbers aspects of the game. Many of us knew him from the tournaments in Vegas which he attended regularly and was a good competitor.

He was a sweetheart of a man. Always kind and cheerful and horse racing was his favorite hobby and passion.

I sensed something was wrong when Jerry did not attend the Gold Coast seminar and tournament last month, because we had seen him at the previous Orleans tournament and every summer prior at the GC.

Please leave your thoughts and memories of Jerry here and i will contact his family with the link so they can add it to their memory book. If anyone can find a photo with Jerry, post it here or tell Rick and he'll do it.

(thx Ron Tiller for letting me know)

[jbshoulda]

I am really saddened by the news of his passing. Jerry was one of my Lucky charms who sat at our table throughout each tournament. He was a quiet man and a real pleasure to be around. A great competitor and he loved the tournament scene. He will be missed.

[tbrown]

Very sad news, Ken. My prayers go out to his family... and to Jerry.
It was nice knowing you,Jerry, even if it was on an internet board.

[njcurveball]

We are all connected much more these days than ever.

R.I.P. Jerry and my heartfelt sympathy to your family!

You will be missed!

Jim

[Mark]

I regretfully never met the man behind the thoughtful, positve and friendly posts.

My sympathies to all so honored.

[DanG]

Sincere condolences to Jerry’s family and may he find peace.

This strikes a personal chord with myself as a longtime member passes and reminds me of something Donnie said a few months back. Each year something has arisen at seminar time and I’ve yet to meet the good people in our group. As Donnie said (and I paraphrase); never take your time for granted and think ‘there is always next year, because we have no guarantees in this life.

Best wishes to all who knew him.

[Donnie]

"Oh my God. Not Jerry!"

My thoughts as I read the opening of this post. Obviously, what can one say that has not already been said? You would never find a nicer guy. I wondered why he did not make the seminar this year. There was definitely a void. And not be able to seek him out and see how he was doing.......

Jerry was too young. My heart goes out to his family. Always a cheerful smile from the man. And yes, a very good competitor. He will be sadly missed.

KM- is this recent? Are there funeral arrangements anyone knows of? I would like to send flowers.

Jerry is standing right in the center of this picture from our trip to the horse farms in Lexington....
http://www.homebased2.com/gallery/Seminar-2003/HTRATOVERBROOK?full=1

RIP Jerry. Know that Memories of you live on.

[Ron Tiller]

Jerry's wife wanted me to pass on to everybody how passionately Jerry enjoyed handicapping with HTR and how much he treasured the HTR community. That Jerry's family felt moved to make sure the HTR community knew this speaks not only for Jerry's love of horse racing but for his family's graciousness in a time of mourning.

People's paths cross from all walks of life here, from having a few laughs at the seminars, debating the finer points of handicapping on this message board, offering help to fellow handicappers, reveling in each other's victories, circling the wagons during misfortune, to simply having a comfortable place to go "where everybody knows your name."

I'll let Jerry have the last word on this. This is one of his early posts on this message board, after returning from the HTR seminar in Lexington 5 years ago:
I got home to Santa Barbara from the seminar late last night. I had a great time! Thank you to Tom and Linda for organizing everything and showing us what Kentucky hospitality is all about. Since I have only been a member for under a year and have never met anyone personally I was a little apprehensive about attending the seminar. After being with the group about 10 minutes I felt like an old vet. Thanks to Ken, Donnie, and Tom for super presentations and all the HTR people for accepting me as part of the group.

[tommyc]

Rest In Peace Jerry....you brought warmth and smiles to our HTR family.
It was our privilege to have known you.

tommyc

[km]

Jerry passed away just a few days ago. I have been unable to find an obituary listing for him using the search "Gerald Pagels". Maybe some of you know how to perform a better on-line search for newspapers or funeral homes that often have listings or memory books. Ron gave me contact information for Jerry's wife, but i'm a little hesitant at this sensitive time to call or email.

[delayjf]

I would like to echo what DanG and Tom said previously. Despite only meeting him briefly at the seminars, one still feels a sense of loss at his passing. My condolences to his family – rest in peace Jerry.

[Inglewood Flamingo]

When I first got started with HTR back in 2003-2004 I lived in Santa Barbara and found Jerry on this board. The next thing I know I was in his living room discussing everything HTR and racing, going through his extensive handicapping library trading yarns about the old days. At the time he was in the midst of reading a phone book sized manual on MS Access. We traded spot plays over the years and I still use his first time Super Trainer play to this day. He will truly be missed and was one of the nicest, sincere people I have ever met.

[Inglewood Flamingo]

I assume that when his obituary is posted it will appear here, the local Santa Barbara, California paper:

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Subsection/Obituaries

[Paladin]

Even though I never had the privilige to meet Jerry in person, I knew him from this board.

We used to compete with each other in the HTR online contest every year, in the "Highest In The Money %" competition.
Yes he was a competitor. But even better, he was a "Kind Competitor", and had kind words for me, which I'll always remember.
And that just spilled over from him being a Kind man to begin with.
He has left that part of himself with us, to live on... and remember him by.
Rest In Peace Jerry.

[tomcat]

RIP Jerry, The picture from Donnie was a great remembrance and the good time we all had. We ate with Jerry three years ago and had heard little since then, RIP Jerry.

[ERNIE LOGSDON]

one of many things that makes going to Las Vegas and the contest was meeting (Jerry ) at breakfast his big smile and warm greeting was always a good start and promise that today is going to be a good one.
thinking back I can't remember one seminar or contest in Vegas that we didn't have a couple of chats. Jerry you are already missed.....<e>

[dawgfan]

It is trully a shock to hear of the passing of Jerry. I to will always remember the
warm greeting I received whenever I saw Jerry. More than one time I had dinner or
breakfast at the Orleans with him.

He will be missed and RIP Jerry.

John
Dawgfan

[jbshoulda]

PAGELS, Gerald







August 17, 2008 8:38 AM

We are saddened to announce the passing of Gerald George Pagels, aged 70, on August 11. Jerry is survived by his stepmother Gladys "Dickie" (Cal) Koller, his brother Douglas, his wife Terri Lee Pagels, his children Christopher (Holly), Penny and Pamela Pagels, and Patricia (Charles) Shaw, his grandchildren Alexander Pagels and Katherine, Sarah, and Michael Shaw.

Jerry was born in Palatine, Illinois January 24, 1938 to George and Viola Pagels. The family moved to Long Beach, California in 1945. Jerry attended local schools and graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1956.

Jerry married Terri in 1960 and joined IBM shortly thereafter. Following the births of their four children, both Jerry and Terri returned to college completing Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's Degrees - Jerry's in Political Science at Cal State University at Long Beach.

Looking forward to retirement, a home was purchased in Santa Barbara where Jerry could cultivate his interests in growing roses, collecting wine, and playing golf. After 34 years with IBM, Jerry retired in 1995. The Pagels' used the greater freedom to travel extensively. Highlights of their travels were seeing the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, paintings of Van Gogh, Pollock, and Warhol, and visiting sites related to open wheel racing, thoroughbred handicapping, and golf.

While seventy years was too short a time, Jerry had a full, well-lived life. He was greatly loved by his family and leaves behind many close friends. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Dr. Kirk Gilbert as well as Visiting Nurse/Hospice for their end of life care.

A celebration of Jerry's life will be held on Saturday, August 23 at 2:00pm at 162 La Vista Grande in Santa Barbara. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels, Santa Barbara Humane Society, or Thoroughbred Charities of America.

[OPM]

I remembered meeting Jerry at the first WSH in 2005 and all I could think about was the smile he had on his face. I will always remember that. We both had a longshot at FG when that year and the smile got bigger and never left every time I saw him. RIP.

[DanG]

Thanks JB, [post #18]

An epitaph any of us would be proud of.

[Donnie]

Thanks for posting the obit, John.
Suze and I will be making a donation to the Santa Barbara Humane Society in Jerry's name. We contribute here locally to our ARL (Animal Rescue League) and have even gone out to walk the dogs awaiting adoption. Jerry obviously was a very caring man, and I am happy to see his warmth must have extended to animals, as well.
A fine man.

[km]

I received this email from Jerry's wife =

Dear Ken:

Thank you so much for the message board and all the wonderful sentiments that were expressed. Jerry's obituary ran in the Santa Barbara News Press yesterday, Sunday, August 17th. We are asking that people contribute to Thoroughbred Charities of America as a tribute to Jerry's love of handicapping. We are having a service and "Jerry party" here at the house on Saturday, August 23rd if anyone is in the area and would like to come. Again, thank you to all the HTR people for making Jerry's years with the group so special. He really enjoyed the contests, the seminars, and the discussion.

Terri

[Gary Brous]

I had the pleasure to know Jerry for the past few years. He had rare enthusiam and intellect for handicapping. He always had the good things about HTR and for Ken. He quite often compared to handicapping before HTR to the current version of the program saying how much more could be learned now than in the past. He always praised Ken's innovations of the program especially the robot. He had no problem in sharing his perspectives on the game. During the tournaments me and my father would poke a little fun at Jerry for having the most colorful Access printouts. Clearly, Jerry had worked very hard at his craft and spent a lot of time preparing for the tournaments. Jerry didn't always win the tournament but he was always extremely well prepared and organized. You will be missed.

[Rick]

http://www.homebased2.com/jerry.png