Gerald Roush, one of the major figures in the Ferrari world, died on Friday, May 21st, at the age of 68. On March 12th of this year, Roush suffered a stroke while en route to Amelia Island to judge at the Concours. He was recovering at an Atlanta facility when he suffered a heart attack.
Gerald, with his wife Carol, edited and published the “Ferrari Market Letter,” a compilation of all Ferraris known to be for sale, plus listings for engines, parts, and other Ferrari-related items. Gerald began the Market Letter while teaching college at Abraham Baldwin College in Georgia in 1976, and it grew to “must-read” status for anyone with a serious interest in the Italian classic. He wrote a cover article for each issue, covering each Ferrari model in detail, or major Ferrari events, or profiling major Ferrari collectors, or just his views on the Ferrari hobby.
Gerald Roush left teaching to work at FAF in Atlanta, then the Ferrari dealer. He used the information on Ferraris he’d been collecting since his teens and added what he learned at FAF from parts orders and correspondence form owners to update his files. His “data base” was initially kept on index cards, but even then his historian’s training served him well, as he knew how to seek independent verification of a car’s history. This attitude made his files the “gold standard” for the history ownership of any particular Ferrari.
Gerald was happy to share his files with other historians, and was always happy to help an owner fill in the blanks in his car’s history, as long as the owner would return the favor. Gerald shared his information in other ways, writing a book in the Ferrari Daytona which, 30 years later, is still the standard reference for that model.
He once owned a Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta and a Ferrari 250 Pinin Farina Coupe, but sold both; his own collector car was a rare Tojiero-MG. He and Carol participated in Ferrari events around the world, and Carol was with him travelling to Amelia Island.
In addition to Carol, survivors include a son, Christopher Stirling Roush, and a daughter, Catherine Roush Tarallo, one sister and three grandchildren.
The memorial service will be conducted at 11 AM on Saturday, Mary 29, 2010 at the Snellville Chapel of Wages Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Heart Association in Gerald’s memory.
VeloceToday extends its condolences to the Roush family.
David Seibert
A fond remembrance of Gerald by a dear friend. Thanks, David.
I met Gerald as part of his Mille Miglia Storica escapades with Steve Barney many years ago. He was a delight. He’ll be missed by the Ferrari enthusiast community.
I knew and enjoyed the company of Gerald and Carol Roush over the years talking often on the phone and seeing him at our Concorso Italiano. I was fortunate to have Gerald and his good friend from Wyoming Jim Arnieri join me on the 2002 Car Guy Tour. What a pleasure it was visiting Ferrari places with him and of course after each day we would meet at the local bar have a cigar, and put away some whisky.
Gerald loved life and loved Ferraris. He and I discussed often the ups and downs of working with FNA and for me MNA which we both agreed was a challenge.
I will miss him but know the works goes on and that others will pick up where Gerald left off. He left us far to early and we will miss him.
My wish is that he will find the red mist in heaven and discover the good Lord is a Tifosi.
FGM