Gerald Nicholas Gaston, 83, of Vero Beach, passed away on March 1, 2016, at Indian River Medical Center.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anita June Gaston; son Matt Gaston (Liza) and their son, Blake Andrew Gaston of Vero Beach; sisters Josephine Gaston Falterman and Marie Unetta Gaston, both of Harrison, Alaska; and nieces and nephews.
Born in Houma, La., on Aug. 16, 1932, he had been a resident of Vero Beach since 1999, coming from Miami. He received his B.S. from Nicholls State University and an MBA from Loyola University of New Orleans and was awarded honorary PHD in Business from Nicholls State University and Loyola University.
He retired as Chief Executive Officer of American Bankers Insurance Group in 1999 where he spent more than 22 years of his business career. A frequent lecturer at the Harvard Business School on business and overcoming life obstacles, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustee at Loyola University and was on the Board of Trustees of the Eastman School of Music at The University of Rochester New York.
During his years in business he served on many corporate and philanthropic boards including the Miami Ballet. He was an avid big-game fisherman participating in many Billfish Tournaments around the Caribbean and fished extensively around the world with his only son. He began playing music at an early age and was selected for the Air Force Band during his service with the Strategic Air Command at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, N.M. and Schilling Air Force Base Salina Kansas during the Korean War.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 4, 2016 from 2 until 5: p.m. at Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home in Vero Beach. Entombment will take place at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery in Destrehan, La.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to US Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, 3300 N. Highway A1A, North Hutchinson Island, Ft. Pierce, FL. 34949 or VNA Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Online condolences may be made at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.
