GERARD DAMIANO: 1928-2008
By Zero Boy <http://www.zeroboy.com>

[October 27, 2008] I am in Fort Myers, Florida, sitting by a screened in pool, after quite a weekend with the undead. Damion DaCosta and I are here to lead two zombie walks and teach a "walk like a zombie" workshop.

Our pal Gerard is one of the organizers and has wrangled us a gig as professional zombie walk peeps for the second year. Last year's festival marked the 25th anniversary of "The Day of the Dead" movie, which had been shot in Fort Myers. This year, I met an actual zombie extra who ate flesh off the star's chest at the end of the movie.

At Zombicon last year, 80 people showed up in Zombie costumes and elaborate make-up, and this year, a whopping 300. It was a success in a city that is hauntingly like an empty stage set. Not much going on in a pretty downtown with lots of "For Lease" signs.

All through this, Gerard has been dealing with his dad's failing health for the last month or so. A week before the event, one of the organizers' father passed away. On Friday night, the founder of Zombicon, Janet Planet, found out her step dad passed away.

Saturday night, at the height of the evening, Gerard's father passed. Gerard's sister Christar and he kept the motto of "the show must go on." The show did and I was amazed at how composed my pal G-Rock (Gerard's warrior name) has been to put on three huge events and have your dad die.

I met Jerry once last year. We talked and I asked him the inevitable questions about porn, film and sex. He was a great guy, and I know this sounds cliché, but he was still checking out the ladies last year. They loved him.

In 2000, I read an article about "Deep Throat" and rented the video. I had no idea that it was Gerard's dad's film. He had never told me in the nine years of hanging out about his dad. I had met Barbara, his mom, but not his dad.

I had called my friend Damion to tell him about the movie I had seen. "You didn't know? That's Gerard's dad!" Then Damion sang the theme song. I called Gerard and told him how I had seen a movie he directed.

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"I saw your film Deep Throat."

"I would have to have been nine years old to have directed that film."

So, last year, I finally met him in the flesh. This year, he left it. I was looking forward to seeing him, and brought a can of Deep Throat Energy Drink and a Deep Throat T-shirt my pal Darlinda gave me. G-Rock made me feel like he was introducing a part of his family to another when Jerry and I met. Man his dad was suave. Felt like I could say anything to him or ask him anything and he was right there. In a way that was not raunchy or nasty, but that had that rascal's glint. I can appreciate it. My pal Sergeant G-Rock has been there for me many times, so it is with great love and affection that I send Gerard's message about his dad:

Gerard Rocco Damiano Sr.
August 4th 1928 - October 25th 2008

On Saturday October 25, at 7:45pm, Jerry's soul peacefully departed his body. He suffered from complications following a stroke. He will be remembered by all of those who knew him for his charm and wit. His films are a legacy of his talent and vision.

On August 3, 2008, we celebrated his 80th birthday together with him. We feel that this was the ultimate celebration of his life, therefore, we will not be holding a memorial service for him.

We feel blessed to have shared our lives with such an amazing man. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM) <www.aim-med.org>

We would like to thank everyone who knew and loved him as we did,

Gerard and Christar