My factory went 8 ft under water in the flood 0f ’93’.  it shut the plant down for four months.  I never dreamed dirty water could cause such damage.

We developed a unique six wheel utility vehicle and had four patents on it.  Along came the large companies and dangled large sums of money to sell.  I took their bait and ran with a large smile on my face.

My daughter Betsy graduated from Mizzou Vet school and is practicing in St. Louis.  Vet school puts its students through a terribly hard curriculum.

My wife Peggy of 37 years, developed brain cancer and died of heart failure while taking a second large dose of chemo.  We had a very good marriage and I take my hat off to her for putting up with me for all those years.

Spouse: Peggy- Deceased (4/03)
Children: Elizabeth (33)

I have a farm an hour north of St. Louis and raise Black angus cattle.  I enjoy doing the farm work without the “people pressure” of the city.  I enjoy riding my motorcycle through the scenic countryside near the farm.

i have certainly enjoyed the past 50 years and hope to see you all on the 60th.

I have been happily married to Karl for 46 years. We have 5 daughters, the youngest adopted from Korea, and 9 grandchildren. Jenifer is an elementary teacher, Karen is a speech pathologist, Valerie owns a scrapbook retreat business, Rebecca is a CPA, and Sarah is a phlebotomist. We have lived in Valparaiso, IN (45 minutes East of Chicago and 10 minutes from Lake Michigan and the Dunes) for the past 24 years. Karl and I both worked at Valparaiso University before our retirement. Karl served as Associate Dean of the College of Business and I served as Administrator for the Dean of the Law School. Since I have not been back in many years, I am really looking forward to seeing everyone.

Geri Rothman-Serot, a St. Louis, Missouri native, who now lives in Lakeland, Florida has a long history of public service that spans the political, charitable, and educational communities.

      ELECTIVE  OFFICE

Geri served as Councilman for St. Louis County, the most populated county in Missouri.  She was an active and innovative member of the Council.  Geri served as Chair of the Public Improvements, Justice and Health committees.  She successfully sponsored the Medical Waste Incinerator Bill, the strictest in the country. She also sponsored and passed legislation requiring County vehicles to use ethanol-based fuel, making St. Louis County the largest county to do so in the country.  Geri sponsored a Hate Crimes Bill in her first year on the Council, and an ethics bill for riverboat gambling.  She created the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Oversight Commission, and D.A.R.E.S. (Developers and Residents Establishing Solutions), a volunteer mediation board that provided a forum for solving disputes related to St. Louis County development projects.

In August of 1992, Geri decisively won the Missouri Democratic nomination for the United States Senate, enabling her to run against the incumbent, Kit Bond.  Her campaign kept the well financed incumbent to under 52% of the vote, receiving more votes in Missouri than President Clinton.

    COMMUNITY  SERVICE

As President of the Legislative Spouses in Jefferson City, MO, Geri organized the members into a strong, bi-partisan force that lobbied victoriously for a new Missouri State Capitol Museum.  She was able to bring people together from all areas of government to produce two successful Gridirons to raise money for original artwork for the Missouri State Capitol, a project that continues today.

Former Democratic Congressmen Bob Young and Republican Congressman Jack Buechner appointed her to the Congressional Awards Council.  Geri has served both on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the St. Louis Science Center and was a motivational speaker for the United Way.  She served on the board of the St. Louis chapter of the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Employment and Vocational Service, and was the Vice President of United Hebrew Congregation.  As 2002 Chairman for the St. Louis Chapter of Hadassah, she increased membership by 600.  Geri has given numerous speeches to healthcare organizations and the general public.

Geri now serves on the executive committee of LRMC Foundation’s Women In Philanthropy.  She also serves on the Watson Clinic Foundation’s Breast Cancer Luncheon Committee, as well as the First Annual Polk County Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Sponsor Chair.

HEALTH  CARE

Geri has been deeply involved with health care issues.  While serving on the County Council, she proposed a comprehensive health care plan to the City/County Health Care Task Force that required no tax increase.

As a three time breast cancer survivor, Geri was a board member of the American Cancer Society’s Missouri Chapter, and S.H.A.R.E., a support group for breast cancer patients.  Geri was the first Chairwoman of the Women’s Advisory Board for Women’s Health Resources at St. Louis Jewish Hospital.  She has served as the Honorary Chairman of the Missouri Mental Health Association, The Mother’s March for the March of Dimes and the March of Dimes Telethon.  Since coming to Lakeland, she is working with Lakeland Regional Cancer Center to form a Mentors Group, a group of breast cancer survivors to help the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient.

      AWARDS

Among her many awards, Geri received the Woman of Valor Award from the AMC Cancer Research Center of Denver.  She also received the Volunteer of the Year Award and Outstanding Special Event Award for 1982 from the Missouri Division of the American Cancer Society.  In 1984, Geri received the prestigious St. Louis Globe-Democrat Woman of Achievement Award for Good Citizenship, and was voted the runner up for the St. Louis Suburban Journal’s 1986 Citizen of the Year. She was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 2002.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Geri was educated at the University of Missouri, Columbia, the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and Washington University.  She hosted the public service programs, “Profile” and “Medical Update” for KRJY-FM, where she interviewed both local and national personalities.  Geri was Finance Chairman for the 1968 revenue increase for the St. Louis City Public Library.  She also worked in public relations at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology.  She was office manager for the Center For Orthopedics in Belleville, IL.

Geri worked for Lakeland Regional Medical Center, as a consultant in office management.

During her years in politics, Geri actively participated in campaigns, serving as campaign and finance chairman for numerous elections.  She also served as the Missouri Deputy Finance Director of the Gephardt for President campaign.

FAMILY

Geri  is married to Lakeland Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Don Serot and each have four children.  She was actively involved in her children’s school organizations, including having served as P.T.A. President.