OBITUARIES

JERRY FABYANIC Columnist

the point where long-distance runners feel like they could run forever not only despite the pain but by embracing it. I re ected on the scene of Paul Maclean, played by Brad Pitt, in “A River Runs rough It,” perfecting the art of y shing. I considered successful sports teams’ need for players to eschew egos given there’s no I in sport. And I pictured the exquisitely graceful synergism of couples ice dancing. But each of them failed to equate to the absolute harmony and perfection of rowing, the moment when a crew achieves swing where they glide their craft across the water seemingly without e ort.

e closest metaphor or allusion to swing in eight-oar rowing is a symphony orchestra in which one discordant note destroys an entire piece. In rowing, one discordant note is called “catching a crab.” When that happens, everything gets thrown o , and the team essentially starts anew as they watch their competitors race farther ahead. For the University of Washington’s Huskies crew that faced never-ending obstacles up to and including the Olympics — some de facto, others intentional — nothing short of perfection — swing — would get them the gold.

e psychology behind that physical harmony is complex. It requires the rower to completely repress their ego while at the same time remaining true to their individualism in context of their abilities. It’s a form of what in philosophy is called “conjunction of opposites,” when two opposing truths are equally valid. For me, that is what drove the story home.

Yes, the decidedly non-economic rags-to-riches tale is one for the ages. And Joe’s and his fellow rowers’ inspirational life stories tug at the heartstrings. But it was becoming educated about the intricacies not only of eight-oar rowing but also of swing, and how extraordinarily rare it is reached, that for me put “ e Boys in the Boat” in the rare ed air of numinous storytelling. e chances of me rowing a boat at the level of swing are the same as me summiting Mt. Everest. Neither will happen. But the image of an eightperson crew rowing in precise synchronicity — that kundalini moment of peak performance — will serve henceforth as a mental visualization for perfection. e ideal to strive for but rarely achieved.

Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.

GERLACH Glenn W. Gerlach

June 11, 1935 - April 3, 2023

Glenn W. Gerlach (87) Passed away peacefully in his home on April 3rd, 2023, with his daughter, Christi, by his side. He was born on June 11, 1935 in Kenosha, WI. where he met his wife Noreen, they were married for over 65 years. Glenn is survived by his 4 siblings, his 5 children and seven grandchildren: Gregg (66), Je (63), Cari (61), Glenn Jr.(60), Christi (52) his grandchildren, Glenn III, Sheila, Wiley, Ella, Mei, David and Michaela.

Glenn and Noreen moved to Evergreen, Co in 1979. He has called Evergreen home ever since. Glenn obtained a BS in Electrical Engineering from UW Madison, his Masters Degree from Drexel University in Baltimore. He worked as an Engineer in Baltimore, California and Colorado.

Glenn loved working in the yard, planting owers. He loved to be outdoors, hiking, skiing, hunting and being with friends. He also loved having his grandchildren surrounding him. He loved to play bridge any chance he could. Glenn and Noreen were very active in the communities wherever they lived. ey were involved in local politics, church, and bridge groups. ey were foster parents. ey were known to throw great parties.

Glenn was preceded in death by his wife Noreen. ey will spend eternity together in Evergreen Memorial Park in Evergreen, CO. We would like to thank all those in Evergreen who cared for Mom and Dad over the years, doctors, nurses, home care workers, hospice, church. It’s truly a wonderful community.

Donations in the name of Glenn Gerlach can be sent to Mount Evans Hospice of Evergreen in Evergreen, Colorado. ey were wonderful to both Glenn and Noreen.

On Friday, April 7, 2023, Triena Merydith Harper (nee Decker) passed away at the age of 77.

Triena was born on October 12, 1945, in Hagerstown, Maryland to Hilda Mae Merydith Decker and Maurice Schultz Decker. Growing up in Upper Arlington, Ohio, Triena graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 1963. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where she met her ex-husband and lifelong friend Gary Harper. Afterwards they lived in Germany and Ohio, before moving to Colorado. After moving a few times in the Denver area, Triena found her dream home in Indian Hills in the foothills in 1988.

In Colorado, Triena volunteered at the local re department for several years as a rst responder and EMT. at experience led her to employment as a deputy coroner. Her earlier work in hospital psychiatric wards helped her to bring a human touch to her role as coroner. An expert investigator, Triena began as a deputy coroner for Je erson County in 1983, then advanced to Chief Deputy Coroner, a position she held till her retirement in 2008.

During her time as Chief Deputy Coroner, Triena helped to modernize the coroner’s o ce. From a newspaper article following her retirement, Triena was quoted as saying that when she started “We had no o ce, just one room with one desk, and a closet to keep all the evidence in. We did all the autopsies at mortuaries, and we were paid by the body.”

Triena was instrumental in expanding the o ce and putting deputy coroners on a salary. Perhaps her most prominent case was the Columbine school shooting of 1999.

Ourselves” a book of photos (from 50 highly regarded photographers) and essays about a wide diversity of American women. Furthermore, Triena was a consultant to the scienti c monograph “ e Use of Forensic Anthropology” by Pickering and Bachman, and the book is dedicated to her. She also worked with Diane Mott Davidson, author of many mystery novels, to keep her stories authentic. Again, Davidson dedicated some of her novels to Triena.

Generous with her time after retirement, Triena volunteered for Evergreen Animal Protection League where she devoted many hours to the care of rescued pets. In addition, Triena enjoyed hiking and both downhill and cross-country skiing, often with her beloved dog Bear at her side. Triena was a lover of animals, both domestic (especially her many pets) and wild. She was certi ed as a Je erson County Wildlife Master; in this role she advised citizens how to deal with con icts with wildlife. With her brother, Bob, she traveled to Antarctica saying, “it was the best vacation,” lled with penguins and whales. She also traveled to Alaska to kayak and see grizzly bears and to Canada to watch polar bears.

Triena was preceded in death by her brother omas Ladd Decker (2019), her mother (1991), and her father (1986). She leaves behind her brother Robert ‘Boo’ James Decker (wife June), sister-in-law Kathryn Decker, and nieces and nephews Nicholas, Amanda, Timothy, Colin, Scott, and Stephanie. Triena also leaves behind many dear friends, with whom she enjoyed spending hours visiting and corresponding.