GARY DIRLAM '61

1943-2023

A LAKE WEIR LEGEND

Living the Class of '62 Motto: Not for Ourselves, But Others

Classmate & teammate Wallace McKeehan '62 (ed.).  Gary Dirlam passed on to join the Unbroken Circle of Lake Weir alumni from the old school on the lake who passed before him.  (Will the Circle Be Unbroken by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was his signature song).  He more than no other, kept the circle intact and in touch and played no small role in the organization of reunions large and small.  Gary gave me various nicknames over the years—Smack, EMac, Einstein Wally—and I nicknamed him The Shark referring to his legal profession.  Upon my arrival midterm 1959 to Lake Weir High, he right away was my mentor and role model for leadership, both in student government and athletics.  Coach O’Brien put me on the ’60 varsity basketball although a sophomore and unknown new kid on the block and there we became teammates.  Gary chose me as his running mate for student council president and we campaigned, won and served together in ’61. This set the stage for my presidency in ’62.  Gary also introduced me to the dating game and the Ocala Drive-In Theatre.  I had no “wheels,” Gary did, and Belleview was both the homes of myself and his high school sweetheart that lasted a lifetime, Sandra Beck. This is the one thing that drew Gary away from the Lake and its beaches, and I was a beneficiary of the transportation and double dating with Sandra’s sister.  Gary introduced me to the Ocala Drive-In theatre for the first time.  We parted ways when Gary graduated in ’61 and he went on to the University of Florida where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.  He went on to take a law degree at Stetson Collage of Law.  I followed in his footsteps to UF after graduation in ’62 but we did not reconnect until the late ‘90s with the rise of the intern(et and I began to attend Lake Weir reunions.  Gary's law practice was largely one of service to others in arbitration of disputes and serving as guardian ad litem for children caught in the disputes.

Gary was tireless in his attempts to particularly keep track of contacts and news from his Lake Weir class of ’61, his athletic teammates and coaches and as the years went by expanded to classes before and after ’61.  A resident of Ocklawaha on Lake Weir, Gary loved the lake, its beaches, its residents, and the recreational opportunities they offered up until his death.  He is said to be one of the first barefoot skiers on the lake.  As a substitute, he settled on Lake Sheen in the Windemere area across from the Magic Kingdom in Disneyworld in Orlando where he carried out his profession as a legal mediator.  He never missed an opportunity to visit his beloved Lake Weir.

Gary was a traditionalist, to say the least often to a comical level which he took in stride with his limitless sense of humor.  He loved old Florida culture and history, especially that of central Florida, the Ocklawaha River and east coast beaches.  His home up until his death was a classic old Florida place among the mansions built by Nicklaus, Shaq and Tiger.  No fancy lanai or pool, just the old screened in back porch and a second story veranda overlooking Lake Sheen.  One could sit on either and watch the nightly fireworks at Magic Kingdom across the lake.  A visit to his home always got a guided tour of the area on his old pontoon boat right up to Shaq and Tiger’s docks. Gary was always prepared for the unexpected in his organizational activities.  Once while visiting him on a Lake Sheen boat tour, he grounded when coming in to his own dock.  Obviously, this had happened before, he immediately ripped off his clothes, he had a bathing suit under them, and jumped into the lake to get us off the ground.

Gary never married in the traditional sense although he loved the fairer sex and shared escapades with his lady friends, imagined and real, with his classmates.  He was known at his fraternity house for hogging the attic which was used for privacy for visits with lady friends.  The one lasting love of his life was his high school sweetheart, Sandra Beck, a love story worthy of a movie.  After she was widowed, they picked up their high school relationship that was prematurely ended by her tragic death due to cancer.  Gary’s spouse was those he loved and served.  He loved bringing people together and organizing events although he never quite completely mastered modern digital technology in doing it.  He was always 5 years behind in technology, whether phones, computers and photography. His organization of events to honor World War II veterans was legendary.  He was instrumental in getting a vintage fighter jet preserved at a local airport.  A highlight of that activity was his organizing the honor of our vocational agriculture teacher Bill Scruggs at the University of Florida athletic events.  Prior to Gary's research, none of us students knew why Mr. Scruggs has a scarred ear, he always said it was due to frostbite and never spoke of his survival of a crash landing of a bomber in WWII.  His simple enhancement and framing of pictures of others were a hallmark along with his captions and cartoons.   His electronic greeting cards on holidays, especially Peanuts Christmas cartoons.  Gary was a frugal character to say the least consistent with his old Florida house on Lake Sheen.  His ability to avoid paying in a group activity was classic and comical.  I once, on an overnight visit to his home, bought him a new coffee pot on observing the ancient rusty one he was using.  Months later I learned he had never unpacked it because he could not bear to replace the family heirloom that sister Kae Rae had given him years ago when he set up housekeeping.

According to Don Phillips, Gary expressed desire that a poem I wrote for another Lake Weir classmate that was taken from us prematurely be read at his memorial held in Ocala which was attended by a number of his caring classmates:

ODE TO BOAT

Weep not for me
I am in the warmth of Lake Weir spring,
Fragrance of the blossoms orange,
The buzz of bees
The scream of gulls,
Quack of ducks to lake returned.
Muffled purr of distal boats,
Clanging of the packing line,
Oils of citrus from heated peels and seeds.
As I am, so you shall be. [E.W.]  

Gary was named Mr. Lake Weir Senior of the class of ’61.  He deserves the title of Mr. Lake Weir High in general ’55 through ’75.  There was likely no one that loved the old school, the lake, and the Gators more than Gary Dirlam.  He was one of a kind and will be remembered along with memories of the old school. 

 Memories from others

Coach Ned Biddix.  My coaching career began in Lake Weir High School with the football team with which I had a close relationship that lasted over the years.  Gary was very instrumental in keeping the group in touch as the years rolled by, and I was so glad to be a part of it.  Gary was so proud of the Lake Weir community and high school.  So many memories flood my mind in describing Gary, his attributes were leadership, loyalty, caring and concern for others and above all his camaraderie and friendship. Those who touch our lives stay in our hearts forever. Gary was a blessing to us all and his memory a treasure. 

Johnny Privett.  Gary had special interest in Daytona racing and the Kentucky Derby and kept everyone appraised as the events came around.  Gary and we attended together the 24 hr Rolex Daytona Races at least 6 times.  We usually went for the start on Saturday morning then left and watched the ending on tv at home.  Gary never purchased an entrance ticket on his own and always asked me to buy him a ticket ahead of time using my military discount that saved him about $40.00.  Although I suspected he would “forget” and probably not pay me back; I was afraid to suggest he buy his own ticket because he probably would not go.  Every year we would meet in Deland at the same Publix.  He would get the same discounted sandwich to carry into the stands.  He refused to pay for food inside the stadium.  Several years I offered him lodging with me in my RV if he would pay half the fee to park it.  He would kindly refuse and said he would rather drive over alone.  I think Gary probably still had the first penny he ever earned.  When Don Phillips and I went out to eat together, we would always wait to see if he would ever offer to pick up the tab for our meals.  When we told him it was his turn to pay, he just laughed it off as if we were joking. That was Gary to a T.  Nonetheless we really loved the guy.  We are going to miss those good times. 

We both grew up on the lake and both had boats as teenagers.  One time when we were 16 Gary was stranded one hot afternoon and out of gas in the middle of the lake all by himself. I was returning from the other side of the lake and saw him at a distance standing on the bow of the boat waving his hands and jumping up and down. I passed about 100 yards away ignoring him and looking in the opposite direction.  After about 20 minutes I went back to assist. He had not calmed down, the thanks I got was a lecture about Florida boating laws and that I was breaking the law by not stopping to help. He got over it when I threatened to leave him there again.

Rayburn Steele.  Once Gary and John invited me to attend the races with them.  I came down from Ocala.  Gary wanted me to see a race car museum at the track but turns out it no longer existed (Gary was always 5 years behind).  With difficulty, we did finally find about five old race cars from the past in a small room after walking about three miles looking for the non-existent museum.  The following day I rode with Gary to a spot where I had met him the previous day to park my car on the way down to the track to meet John in his big RV.  No way Gary would ever consider paying for parking at the event.  Turned out I had left my phone in John’s RV.  I used a phone at a store to call John who verified he had my phone.  John called Gary to let him know my phone was with him so Gary say's to John “call Ray and tell him you have his phone before he gets all the way back to Ocala.”  We all had a big laugh.

The upside of this trip was that Gary and I spent time together on the trip, had a man to man talk, and I learned of his past and how much he had accomplished from a kid in Iowa to present and was thinking of retiring.  I never knew this side of Gary and what a kind caring person he was until this trip. It was a bond that lasted well beyond the trip and a strong reconnection as Lake Weir alumni. 

Eloise Beck (sister of Sandra Beck).  I remember Gary’s seriousness, and his unusual looking run in basketball shorts.  A highlight of my memory of Gary is of the couple of years he and Sandra were together at the end of her life.  She resisted even having lunch with him for months but I finally convinced her it was harmless.  Gary brought new sweetness and light into her life in a huge way. He was courageous and totally devoted throughout her final illness, even at her final moments.  He showered her with flowers and gifts even roses on her birthdays to her Sunday school class.  There were regular calls and emails to me saying how thankful he was to have had her in his life.  I am grateful to this sweet man!