Ralph A. Gerra

Ralph A. Gerra, 98, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2018 in Bethlehem, PA. Born in 1920 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of Martin and Margaret Gerra also of Brooklyn, and grew up there with his brother Martin and sister Margaret. He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, who died in 2012, one month before their 65th wedding anniversary. He graduated from Brooklyn Prep in 1937. In 1941, he graduated with honors from Notre Dame University, where he was the class valedictorian. He entered Columbia Law School in the fall of 1941 and then left to enlist in the Navy where he was on active duty from 1942 to 1946, stationed in Adak, Alaska, and then in the Naval Reserve until 1955. After leaving active duty with the rank of lieutenant, he returned to Columbia and earned his law degree in 1947. Upon successfully passing the NY Bar exam in 1947, he worked as an associate in Manhattan, first at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and then at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. In 1953 he was recruited by Bethlehem Steel and worked there as a tax attorney, retiring in 1982. In 1973 he was elected to the position of General Tax Counsel at Bethlehem Steel. After retiring from Bethlehem Steel, he worked from 1983 to 1988 as Special Counsel at the NYC law firm of Lord, Day & Lord. He was a long-time member of the Bars of the US Supreme Court, US Tax Court, State of New York, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was active for many years in tax policy and legislation, served as a President and Director of the National Tax Association and also as Chairman of the Value Added Tax Committee of the ABA Section of Taxation. He was a long-time member of the Taxation and Policy committees of the US Chamber of Commerce and was a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.

He married his wife Barbara in 1947 and had seven children. He is survived by five of his children, eight grandchildren, his sister and brother, and many nieces and nephews. He was an enthusiastic golfer, played tennis and squash, and remained an avid reader of biographies and history. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi, the University Club of New York, Saucon Valley Country Club, and the Council of Stewards of the Diocese of Allentown.

A viewing will be held on Sunday March 11, 2018 at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Another viewing will be held on Monday, March 12, 2018 at St. Annes Catholic Church, 450 E. Washington Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18017 from 10:00-10:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be held at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Ralph to the church and/or Columbia Law School, c/o Development & Alumni Relations, 435 West 116th Street, Box A-2, New York, NY 10027. Condolences may be offered at www.connellfuneral.com.

Cemetery
Holy Saviour Cemetery
2575 Linden St.
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Visitation
Sunday, March 11, 2018
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The Connell Funeral Home
245 E. Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Visitation
Monday, March 12, 2018
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
St. Anne's Catholic Church
450 Washington Ave.
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, March 12, 2018
11:00 AM
St. Anne's Catholic Church
450 Washington Ave.
Bethlehem PA 18017
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531