Robert Gerwien '51
One year after his lifelong friend and basketball teammate Jack O’Connell ‘51 was inducted into the Fairfield Prep Athletic Hall of Fame, Bob Gerwien takes his rightful place in the AHOF alongside him.
The Bridgeport native was a two-year starter at Prep, a rugged rebounder who averaged 14.2 points per game and was selected to the All-District team. During his time with the Jesuits, they compiled a 34-13 record and upset regional powers Central, Harding and Hillhouse along the way.
Gerwien was selected to Prep’s All-Decade Team (1942-1951) and then accompanied O’Connell to Fairfield University, where he moved right in and started all four seasons. He led the Stags in rebounding and registered 1,062 career points.
Gerwien served in the Army for two years, after which he became a teacher and coached basketball, baseball and cross-country at now-defunct Stamford Catholic High School from 1959-1963. He then moved on to Immaculate High School, where he served as basketball coach and athletic director from 1963-1972. He worked for the Diocese of Bridgeport a total of 37 years before retiring in 1996.
Gerwien was honored with the Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award by the Greater Bridgeport Old Timers Association in 2009.