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Former NFL official Gerald Hart passes away
Gerald E. Hart 1931-2014
Former NFL official Gerald Hart has passed away as reported by Ed Bouchette in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Â He was 83.
Hart, a native of New York, played football at West Point and Notre Dame. Â He took up officiating after his playing career was over and joined the AFL in 1968 as a line judge, and then served in the umpire position in the NFL after the leagues merged in 1970. He had to retire from the NFL after the 1977 season after a new job required him to travel overseas. Hart came out of retirement in 1983 and worked in the USFL.
Hart wore number 62 during his time in the NFL and he was the umpire on crews where Norm Schachter and Red Cashion were the referees. Â He was the umpire in Cashion’s first year as a referee, and in his book First Dooowwwnnn…and Life to Go, Cashion called his first crew “extraordinary” and spoke highly of Hart’s abilities.
Hart was married to his wife for 60 years, and leaves behind five children, 21 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held May 10.
