Samuel Gerhardstein

Samuel E. “Sam” Gerhardstein, age 68, of Venice, FL, died February 12, 2024, following a stroke and a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Sam was born on January 6, 1956, in Bellevue, OH. He attended Immaculate Conception School, Bellevue, and graduated from Bellevue High School in 1974, the year in which he also set the school record in the high jump and was elected as Bellevue’s first Student Mayor.

He served honorably in the US Air Force (1974-1978), with most of his enlistment at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany. His military awards included the Good Conduct Medal and the Expert Marksman Ribbon.

Sam attended Bowling Green State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1982, with a Political Science major and Economics minor, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 1987.

His career path began with an internship in the Ohio Senate and later as Legislative Aide to then-Senator Paul Gillmor of Old Fort. He later held roles at Davis Besse Nuclear Power Station (1987-1991), the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (1993-1995). He joined Columbia Gas (later absorbed by Nisource) in 1995 and served as Director of Governmental Affairs from 1996 until he retired in 2015. He considered the enactment of HB 95 in 2010, which fundamentally reordered Ohio’s natural gas regulatory scheme, as his greatest professional achievement.

He was a member of the Ohio Lobbying Association; American Legion Post 46, Bellevue; Elks Lodge 1013, Bellevue; and American Mensa, Ltd.

Sam had a life-long love of Lake Erie, and was an avid fisherman, golfer and crossword solver. He traveled extensively during his life, having been to 40 U.S. states, 19 foreign countries, and Puerto Rico. He always felt connected to his Bellevue roots, the family farm and his eight siblings.

Sam was preceded in death by his grandparents; his parents, Rodger A. Gerhardstein, Sr. in 1985 and Irene M. Gerhardstein in 2017; brother Rodger A. Gerhardstein, Jr., in 1995; sister Lizabeth (Bill) Young in 2017; sister Mary K. (David) Schlessman in 2023; and sister-in-law, Debra (Thomas) Gerhardstein, in 1994.

He is survived by his loving wife Dorothy Liggett-Pelanda of Venice, Florida; daughters Natalie (Duncan) Gerhardstein of Luxembourg and Sonja (Brandon) Gerhardstein of Columbus, OH; grandchildren Beatrice, Henry and Alice; sisters Linda Oatley of Nashville, TN; Diane (Bruce) Yingling of Simms, TX; Toni (Chris) Walters of Bellevue, OH; and Laura (Jim) Tebeau of Vickery, OH; a brother, Thomas (Jackie) Gerhardstein of Bellevue, OH; countless nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends; and his loyal Bernese mini, Heidi.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Foos & Foos Funeral Service, 151 Yorkshire Place in Bellevue, Ohio, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., after which a brief veterans’ ceremony will be held at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Immaculate Conception School Tuition Fund in Bellevue (www.icbellevue.org/support-ics).