William P Gergen

William P. (Bill) Gergen passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 12, 2015 in Tomball, TX. Bill Gergen was born into a family of 11 children, in St. Paul, MN. He attended St. Luke’s elementary school and then Nazareth Hall diocesan preparatory seminary for four years. Bill attended the University of Minnesota and the University of California, Irvine. He worked for 37 years as a research physicist at Shell Research Laboratories in Torrance, CA and Houston, studying basic properties of polymers and holding more than 90 patents in this area. Bill worked for 12 years at St. Columban’s Catholic Church in Garden Grove, CA as organist, music and liturgy director. During this time, Bill constructed and played a 15 rank pipe organ. After his transfer to Houston in 1975, he spent 11 years as liturgist and musician at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Tomball, TX. He also spent five years as music director for Spanish music at St. John Vianney. He went on to be music director at Sacred Heart in Conroe as well as Christ the Redeemer, and other churches in the diocese. Finally, Bill recently spent 18 years at St. Leo the Great as English and Spanish liturgist and music director. He spent short periods of time as music director at: Prince of Peace; Sacred Heart, Conroe; St. Maximillian Kolbe and several other churches in the area. Clergy whom he worked for (or with) included Msgr Al Doga, Msgr David Kennedy (in two different churches, now deceased), Fr. Adam McClosky, Fr. Jack Hanna and other staff at St. John Vianney, Fr. Dominic Pelusa and other staff at Christ the Redeemer and an assortment of clergy at St. Leo the Great, most notable of whom are Fr. Luis Piran, and Fr. Carlo Tittoto. Since leaving St. Leo, and while working throughout the past 25 years as a parish musician, Bill devoted much of his time and efforts to the work of Rose Mary Badami and the Magnificat Houses Ministries in Houston. He served as Information Technology Director and vice-chairman of the MHI Board of Directors. Over the years he developed all of the computer programs involved in the daily operation of MHI and trained other staff members to use the programs. (In addition to the work of the Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen and the Clubhouse at St Joseph, MHI provides the essential needs of life to about 200 homeless every day.) Bill prepared and wrote music, formed and directed a choir and played the piano for all liturgies celebrated at MHI. In addition to developing the MHI website (www.mhihouston.org), Bill also developed and maintained his own website (www.gcpmusic.com) for the distribution and publication of his original, liturgical music through “Gaudeamus Catholic Press” Bill is survived by his wife, Annette Gergen, their seven sons, Mark, Peter, James, Thomas, Matthew, John, David; their four daughters, Carolyn, Lynnette, Chrisanne, Bridgid and their children’s spouses, 37 grand-children, and 7 great grand-children. He is preceded in death by his parents, Fredric and Eleanor Gergen and daughter, Maureen Gergen. Bill Gergen’s life was sincerely dedicated to charity and compassion for others – especially those in most need. If you feel inclined, please consider making a contribution to the charity of your choice in honor of Bill Gergen. Thank you for your generosity and empathy. In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage you to offer a Catholic Mass in honor of Bill. Thank you.