Although unexpected, Carl August deGersdorff III, recently of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away peacefully in his sleep Aug. 24, 2022, at his residence. Carl was born in El Paso, Texas, and grew up in Rumson. He attended Rumson Country Day School, Rectory School, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and New England College.
His first job in the restaurant business was at The Rumson Hotel at the age of 13. This established his career for the rest of his life and led him to The Ritz-Carlton where he met Myra, the love of his life for 27 years. Carl moved to Memphis to work for The Peabody Hotel in 2017 where he remained until COVID-19 changed the industry. He quickly picked up where he left off and continued his career working as the managing partner for Porch and Parlor in Memphis where he was on his feet masterfully executing fine dining service and welcoming their guests daily until the age of 67.
Carl’s greatest passions in life were his family and friends. Carl had a huge heart, a personality that was larger than life, and was considered a best friend by many. He will be deeply missed by the friends he and Myra made across our country. His charisma and physical persona of great stature might intimidate some until they engaged with this funny, warm and personable man known to those close to him as Carlie.
Carlie was known to love a good time and to travel with or to visit friends in many places as often as he could. His mother recently received a phone call from a cousin of Carl’s, Father Hank Hilton, who told her that his father, Uncle John, referred to Carlie as Hercules. He would say, “It’s always more fun when Hercules comes to dinner.” That about sums up Carlie.
Carl was preceded in death by his stepfather Dr. Francis Gilbertson and his father and stepmother, Carl A. deGersdorff Jr. and Marianna deGersdorff, as well as his uncle Lewis Kleinhans III.
He is survived by his wife Myra deGersdorff; mother Susan Gilbertson of Rumson; a sister and brother-in-law, Susan (Wyckie) and John Stamos of Newfields and Lincoln, New Hampshire; a brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Regina deGersdorff of Little Silver; a sister and brother-in-law, Alison and Robert McHeffey of Fair Haven; a brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Julie Gilbertson of Fair Haven; and stepbrothers Hank and Nancy Gilbertson of Stuart, Florida and Tortola, and Mark Forest Gilbertson of Rumson and New York City. He is also survived by his aunt Cotheal Murphy Linnell of Arizona and Maine; his aunt Gertrude Wilmers of New York City and Massachusetts; and his three half-sisters from his father’s second marriage and their spouses: Ursula deGersdorff and Anthony Segala of Alford, Massachusetts, Sascha deGersdorff and Greg Lalas of Brooklyn, New York, and Christina (Tuckie) deGersdorff and Witold Czubala of Brooklyn, New York.
All funeral services will be private.
The article originally appeared in the September 15 – 21, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
