Strothers was a tenacious reporter intent on exposing the corruption and lies of East Cleveland City Hall, in particular those of former Mayor Gary Norton. More recently, Strothers devoted enormous time and energy to reporting on the ongoing environmental catastrophe at the Noble Road dump site.
Strothers was a relentless documentarian, attending city meetings with camera always out and trained on the action. He was a thorn in the side of elected leaders and he wrote with an informal, no-nonsense panache.
Additionally, he was a valuable and urgent voice on East Cleveland issues, pleading for broader coverage and providing important background for less knowledgeable reporters. He was always generous with me and Eric Sandy as we pursued stories in East Cleveland. Without dedicated local reporters like Strothers, neglected communities like East Cleveland will continue to live in darkness. Strothers did his work neither for fame nor money, but for the belief that citizens have a right to know what their leaders are up to. He was, as he said, “fighting the good fight.”
On Facebook, it was said that Strothers died of a heart attack. He moved to Pennsylvania last year, he told Eric Sandy, in part because of health problems he’d acquired from proximity to Noble Road.
Thanks for everything, Jerry. You’ll be missed.
This article appears in Jul 12-18, 2017.
After one misunderstanding, he was always good to me. Always supportive. I’ll miss him immensely.
I have been a friend of Jerry (known in PA as Jerry DJ) since we were not more than teens. He truly is a class act that will be forever missed. Fly high, Jerry.
And Happy Birthday in Heaven. Love ya!
Gerald Strothers was a one of a kind, fearless, dedicated and smart reporter. His passing leaves a void that will never be filled.Thank you for acknowledging the passing of this East Cleveland giant. His name will forever be synonymous with East Cleveland.
Very, very sadden to hear of such a thing!!! A great “Soldier” is now passed away!!! We who remain must bring up the rear!!!No more needs to be said…..Take thy rest now, Gerald!!! You have given up the ghost, sleep on now, until that great day of the Lord Jesus!!! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
I never met Gerald but I followed his work closely on social media. He was pretty much the only regular source of local news in East Cleveland, and a one man crusade for open and responsible government. The people of EC are definitely worse off now that his voice has been silenced.