Gerald Pernak:
CLASS OF 1973
Cody High SchoolClass of 1973
Detroit, MI
Gerald's Story
After Cody, while healing up from a motorcycle accident, I went to Wayne State for a couple years. I worked near a small airport where I saw airplanes flying overhead all day, so I learned how to fly. Then I worked international airfreight for a few years while going to University of Michigan for a Marketing degree. They sent me to the orient, including China when they first re-opened their doors to outsiders. I didn't have time to spend the money I earned so I invested in the stock market. After graduating, I went to Montana to visit my brother for two weeks and ended up staying fifteen years. I lived off the stock market all that while and had the best time of my life. I did whatever was exciting at the time. Joined the local fire department and county search/rescue, joined the Air Force Auxiliary and flew missions for DEA, US Customs, and FEMA. I managed to get into a movie that was being filmed where I lived in Montana, "Return to Lonesome Dove". I went to stunt training school and did stunt work for Mickey Rourke's film FTW and several others. I learned how to dance for the movies and met my ...Expand for more
wife. We're in the final scene of "The High Line". I helped start a construction company that went very well for a short time, but was injured on the job. While recuperating, I went back to school at 45 years old along with my wife and two daughters. My wife is now a level I trauma nurse and I am a Physician Assistant working various assignments, family practice, addiction management, and open-heart surgery. Before PA school I discovered I had a very rare cancer that required two crainiotomies, radiation and chemo that knocked the spunk out of me. I managed to finish med school anyway. We both worked at metro Detroit hospitals for a few years. The new careers are fantastic but we have incredible school and medical related debt that we will now have to work till we're 90 before retiring. With five kids, three grand kids, kayaking, sailing, and more adventures, life is very busy. We're not running out of steam yet but I'm getting AARP letters already. Seventy is only sixteen summer vacations away, oye. I'd like to hear from my classmates, you know who you are. Looking forward to visiting with you.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!
Photos
Register for Free to view all photos!