Gary Alan Bauerschmidt

Gary Alan Bauerschmidt was born on July 12, 1952, in Tokyo, Japan, to James and the late Taeko Bauerschmidt. From the very beginning, Gary was intensely curious, always thoughtful and intentionally focused, traits that he displayed throughout his life. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend-cherished by all who knew him for his intelligence, quick wit, and generous heart.

As the son of an Air Force serviceman, Gary lived a life of movement and adventure in his early years. Before the age of 20, he had called over eight places home, including Ohio, Illinois, Delaware, South Carolina, France, England, Japan, and the Philippines. But it was New Mexico that claimed him. In Clovis, Portales, Alamogordo, and finally Albuquerque, he found his roots and built a life defined by family, and service.

Gary was the eldest of three siblings, with his sister Linda born in Ohio and his youngest sister Diana in France. The family's travels gave Gary an appreciation for food, culture, and an adaptability that shaped him.

From a young age, Gary loved baseball and chess, and he carried a deep interest for sports throughout his life-particularly tennis, racquetball, soccer, and golf. He graduated from Clovis High School in 1970 and earned a degree in History from Eastern New Mexico University.

After a formative stint in Boston, where he became a devoted Celtics fan, Gary returned to the Southwest to begin a career at the University of New Mexico. Starting as a UNIX coordinator at the UNM Computing Center, he rose to the role of Associate Director of IT before retiring in 2014.

Although Gary never actualized his dream of becoming a history professor, his passion for history remained strong. A Civil War buff, Gary loved teaching people about things such as the Battle of Fort Sumter and Sherman's March to the Sea, even if the audience happened to be his teacher. Correcting teachers was another trait Gary was generous enough to pass along to precocious son. He cherished visiting historical sites, especially those from his time in Boston, and continued to explore significant locations, including scratching Civil War battlegrounds in Pennsylvania off his bucket list with just the last year.

In 1985, Gary married the love of his life, Rebecca Dicks, and in 1987, they welcomed their son, Matt. Rebecca was taken with Gary's kind spirit and his looong hair; and Gary was captivated by Rebs' energy, witty comebacks, and those boots! Gary's aforementioned adaptability saw him rising to the occasion in hosting neighborhood blockbusting Halloween blowouts - his wife's favorite holiday - converting their curb appeal to a graveyard and their garage to a shark's mouth.

Gary's foray into coaching began in the early 90s, when he stepped up to coach Matt's baseball and soccer teams. He had no experience with soccer, but he jumped in wholeheartedly. What began as a volunteer act turned into a second vocation. With heart and humor, he "Ted Lasso'd" his way into becoming a coach admired by generations of Albuquerque kids. He had a special knack for working with young players and girls' teams, making sure everyone felt valued and seen. Over time he evolved his perspective to understand what's truly important, balancing competitiveness with...fun. On the last practice of the season he was known for rallying the troops with a rousing, motivational Gladiator level speech, before opening a cooler to reveal a stash of popsicles and water guns. He also lent his organizational talents to coordinating local tournaments, fostering a thriving New Mexico youth soccer community.

Gary eventually turned his attention to refereeing. He brought his signature calm, respectful presence to the field, earning a reputation as a composed official who maintained the intensity of the game without needing to issue too many red or yellow cards. He became an officiating mentor, dedicating hours and hours to assessment programs to improve standards, and develop other referees. His discipline and dedication inspired his son, who also became a referee at a young age. In 2003, Gary's efforts were recognized with the Copa Tecate Award for outstanding performance and guidance of amateur referees in New Mexico.

Ever the lover of rules, Gary's retirement saw him multiplying two of his passions; one of his favorite sports plus the corresponding regulations, equaling of course... becoming a Golf Rules Official. He absorbed the rule books, scoring impressively high scores on the tests, rapidly earning his "Expert" certification. His commitment quickly drove his ascension as an invaluable member of the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association as well as a USGA Committee Member. He volunteered his time both locally and at tournaments throughout the United States.

Beyond sports, Gary was a true foodie-always up for discovering a new restaurant, dish, or flavor. He enjoyed cooking for friends and family, grilling, briefly brewing beer, and even indulging in bourbon tasting. He was especially thrilled when his wife surprised him with a coveted bottle of Pappy Van Winkle-an unforgettable moment for a man who knew how to savor life's finest experiences. He also enjoyed reviewing restaurants, and spotlighting deserving yet underappreciated gems. Post-college, he served as an employee and eventually manager of a Pizza Hut, leading him to forever carry an elevated respect (and cash tips) for service industry folks, often collecting his favorite server's cell phone numbers to make sure he made it there when they were working - and so they could receive G-Eazy tickets when he was touring town.

Gary lives on though his wife, Rebecca, a son, Matthew and his wife Jessie and their son Milo. He is also survived by his father, James Bauerschmidt and his two sisters Diana Duffy and Linda Dooling, along with several nieces, nephews and an extensive network of friends and associates across the UNM and New Mexico soccer and golf communities.

Gary was a bit reserved, budgeting his dedication to both people and interests that he deemed worthy of his deep focus and sharp passion. With endless grace and empathy for his soul mate, in other facets his patience was shorter when rules weren't followed (wink to his stints as an umpire, referee and golf rules official), or in supporting and pushing his son to be the best he could be. The story of Gary is that of adaptability, constant learning and research, and diving in head first to inundate himself until he became an expert. Whether in the hospital, throughout his life, or in arguments, he never gave up, and his quiet intensity, focused determination, and passion is what he will forever be remembered by.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 3pm, at the family residence.