As a child, C.E. had diphtheria and lost all hair on his body as an 11 year old. Because of this, he never returned to school and didn't learn to read until he was in his late teens. As an adult, he wore toupees and dark, heavy frames on his glasses to cover the fact he had no eyebrows. He also very much favored big cigars, always having one in hand. There are very few pictures of him without one.

July 1946: C.E. Gerberich Lyon Executive Retires July 1: Earl D. Power, president of Lyon Metal Products, Inc., announces the retirement of C.E. Gerberich, owner of the company, effective July 1. Last Saturday evening, 79 Lyon production supervisors from both the Aurora and Chicago Heights plants honored their retiring chief with a reception and dinner and presented him with a token of their high regard. Last night at the Union League club, approximately 35 Aurora general office executives were hosts to Mr. Gerberich at a similar party. Several executives paid tribute to Mr. Gerberich and recalled incidents out of his long years of service with the company. Toastmaster J.B. O'Connor, Lyon vice president, presented the guest with a gift in behalf of those present and wished him future happiness. Mr. Gerberich's retirement climaxes a long and colorful career with Lyon dating back to 1907 when he started with the company as a toolmaker. Lyon grew and Clarence Gerberich grew with it - from toolmaker to toolroom foreman, main shop foreman, general foreman, superintendent, vice president in charge of production at both the Aurora and Chicago Heights plants and finally owner. During the many years that Mr. Gerberich was in charge of production, the company grew from a small organization to the world's largest manufacturer of the various types of products made by Lyon. During the war years, too, he was faced with many production problems when Lyon handled more than 4,000 individual war contracts, including the fabrication and finishing of light metals. Mr. Gerberich has built himself a new home south of Aurora but to date has made no announcement of his retirement plans other than the fact he and Mrs. Gerberich have some immediate plans for traveling in the East. [unk Aurora, IL newspaper]

26 Apr 1964: C.E. Gerberich Retired Executive, Succumbs at Home: Clarence Elmer Gerberich, 82, who lived at 4103 Mariana Road, died yesterday at his home. Mr. Gerberich was born in Aurora, Ill, and had lived in Jacksonville 6 1/2 years. A member of Grace Chapel Parish, was was a retired vice president of Lyons Metal Products Corp. of Aurora, a member of the Aurora Masonic Lodge 254, F. and A.M., Shrines Tabala Temple of Rockford, Ill, Elks Club of Aurora, and life member of Aurora Country Club. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Jessie Dean Raymond Gerberich of Jacksonville; a son Myron R. Gerberich of Cedar Falls, Iowa; a daughter, Mrs. Alford [sic] C. Atkins of Jacksonville; a brother, Harry E. Gerberich of Aurora; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the Robert M. Naugle Chapel with Rev. George Murphy, rector of Grace Chapel Parish, officiating. Masonic services will be held at the graveside by Duval Lodge 159, F. and A.M. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. [Florida Times Union]

A memory here from a great-granddaughter: He loved St Augustine. On one trip, I was blessed with him taking me along for the ride. He was going there to purchase his beloved cigars. Given a couple of dollars to spend, I went happily into some stores to find the perfect purchase. After the purchase was made, I strolled back in the direction of the tobacco shop. And stopped in my tracks watching two elderly men, drinking red wine & savoring their cigars on the sidewalk with chairs pulled from the store. A man who had made a fortune and a man who still rolled perfect tobacco - neither able to fully converse in the other's language - but it made no difference. Utter enjoyment from both men's eyes in the satisfaction of a pleasant afternoon with their age coming to completion.