Earl Gerber’s legacy more than Cambria’s old Chuck Wagon Restaurant

Communities are built by the interactions of their citizenry, the businesses and all who pass through them. In a small town like Cambria, the culture is enhanced by certain characters — ornery, happy, helpful, eccentric or otherwise.

They stand out. They make life here more interesting, more complete. In my 34-plus years here, I’ve known quite a few. Some I didn’t get to know like I wish I had. Like Earl Gerber.

Funny, sometimes it isn’t until someone’s gone that you find out about who they really are. I was quite familiar with his Chuck Wagon restaurant. In fact, the day I moved to Cambria, Aug. 8, 1981, the woman for whom I’d just started working took us out for our inaugural dinner there.

“Oh, I love this place! I love all the folks who work here, the owners … you’re going to love this town. This is what it’s all about!”

She would, of course, be proven right. I would also find out how much difference you can make in a place by the power of a smile or a good story or a helping hand. From what I’ve read in online posts, Earl was this guy.

“He was always so good to me!”

“He was the best boss!”

“He was so much fun!”

Sitting here at Gerber’s Auto, waiting for my oil to be changed, I asked Cameron (Earl’s grandson) about him.

Family memories

“Oh, man, I’ve got so many good memories! Like taking us to Wisconsin or just all over in his motorhome. (He helped create the Central Coast Pelicans Motorhome Club). That was so great!

“He came to every baseball, football or basketball or whatever game. Eventually he even got to do that with his great grandkids, as well. When I was in school, he had a Caprice station wagon that he could practically fit the whole team in and drive us to all these places way out in the middle of nowhere. He was just so unbelievably supportive.”

Earl retired from the Air Force to Cambria, worked at the Coast Unified School District and then, in 1975 purchased the Chuck Wagon.

“He had never done anything like that before. He and my Uncle Al got together and worked out recipes so they would always be the same. If there were enchiladas on Tuesday, people could always count on the same enchiladas! Consistency!”

I cornered Dave Gerber.

“Everyone else could tell you more than me. While I was growing up, he was always either overseas with the Air Force or working two or three jobs to support everyone. He was always taking in foster kids, not that I liked that very much, but that was who he was.

“My cousins, they could tell you more. Anytime there was any trouble in the family, he’d take them in, take them to the Chuck Wagon, whatever. He was just that way.”

I gathered from some online posts this was true: “He was my grandpa!”

What a legacy!

“When I was 11 years old, I wanted to buy lunch at school like those other kids. So, he got me a job. ‘If you want something, you’ve got to work for it.’ I’ve been working ever since.”

Cameron also added, “Yeah, I went to work at 10 at the restaurant, separating giblets in the chickens. Hahaha …”

Dave also told me his dad paid for each of his grandkids to go to Mission Prep to be sure they got a good education.

“He wanted to do everything he could so that they would succeed in life.”

Well, it looks like it worked. And his extended “family” apparently has fared far better in this world for his kindness.

We need more Earl Gerbers.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 10:39 AM with the headline "Earl Gerber’s legacy more than Cambria’s old Chuck Wagon Restaurant."