By Bob Cauttero, rideforlife.com
New York's beloved native son, Lou Gehrig was born to German immigrant parents in upper Manhattan in 1903, but not many people these days remember where.
In 1953, Gehrig's birthplace, a four-story apartment building (that later became a laundry) had been adorned with a memorial plaque: "This plaque marks the site of the birthplace of Henry Louis Gehrig." Christina Gehrig, Lou's mother, was at the unveiling ceremony.
Sadly, Gehrig's apartment building and that memorial are long gone, but now Ride for Life, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people living with ALS, has again marked this historic site with a new plaque on display at 1994 2nd Avenue (now the site of Dimitri's Garden Center.)
The following poem was written by a Ride volunteer to honor Lou Gehrig. It is inscribed on the Gehrig memorial plaque, which sits on a granite base. It was proudly dedicated by his ALS family on May 14th 2005, the second day of the 8th Annual ALS Ride For Life.
Henry Louis Gehrig
“A Great Yankee & A Good Man”
Born : June 19, 1903
Died : June 2, 1941
A son of the city, the top of his game,
The Pride of the Yankees, a New Yorker of fame.
The No. 4 jersey has set him apart,
A Triple-Crown winner, so humble of heart.
This “Iron Horse” player went 13 years straight,
Establishing records ‘til disease set his fate.
ALS* was his downfall, it cut his career.
He spoke to the fans, his fate was quite clear.
At the stadium that day, he valued their worth,
Claiming ”… the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
A symbol for all ages, showing courage and grace,
We come to pay tribute at this, his birthplace.
By Lorraine & Bob Rau
* Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, forever known as Lou Gehrig’s disease