About Gerry Friend
Born in 1926 and raised on Detroit’s East Side Gerald Friend graduated from Detroit Southeastern High School in 1944 and moved on to Dennison University in Ohio from which he graduated in 1948. In 1949 he became owner and President of McNeil Insurance Agency in Shelby Township. Throughout the years as a business leader and community member Jerry was an active participant in a variety of community causes. However, it was in his role as Director and Coach in the YMCA Youth Basketball program from 1964 until 1985 the he left his greatest legacy. Throughout those years Jerry impacted the lives of hundreds of athletes, volunteers, and parents. He was committed to making sure that the athletes in the program had an enjoyable and positive experience. And he worked tirelessly to remind the volunteers and parents as to their roles and responsibilities in ensuring that a positive, fun, and learning environment was present in the program. It was this commitement to youth that upon his untimely death in 1985 that inspired his friends to create the Gerald C. Friend Memorial Trust to ensure that Gerry will have a lasting legacy on the youth in this area
