Gary Hundertpfund

Gary "PopPop" Hundertpfund, age 79 of Lexington, Ohio peacefully passed on July 10 surrounded by his loving family, after a hard fought battle with kidney cancer.
Gary was born March 28, 1946, and raised in Leonia, New Jersey to Frank and Gloria (nee Gelan) Hundertpfund. He grew up surrounded by family including many aunts, uncles, cousins, his younger sister Joanie Letts (nee Hundertpfund). He spent winters ice skating at "Ma & Pa" Parker's backyard ice rink with his best friends Toby and John Parker, and his summers "down the shore" in his heart's home, Cape May, New Jersey.
Upon completion of high school, Gary moved to Ohio to attend Otterbein University where he majored in Health and Physical Education. With degree in hand, he was hired as a PE & Health teacher where he devoted 42 years to the students in Lexington Local Schools, impacting the lives of countless students.
In Lexington, he also found the love of his life, Cynthia Jean Hundertpfund (nee Williams). Before the school day began, Gary would draw pictures for her students on the black board in her classroom. This was the beginning of a love that created Gary's greatest source of joy and pride, his family.
Gary and Cindy, married in 1973 had two children Holly Hundertpfund-Belby (Tim) and Brett Hundertpfund (Chelsey). Gary was the most devoted, loving father who instilled his love of adventure, as well as his passion for teaching, in both of his children.
However, nothing would compare to the sheer joy he found when his grandchildren were born. These grandchildren turned Gary into "PopPop". Owen and Julia Belby along with Gatton and Marcy Hundertpfund were the lights of his life. He and Cindy spent countless hours driving between Cuyahoga Falls and Ostrander, Ohio to babysit, and attend every concert, game and performance each grandchild had.
Gary also created an extended family, the Cape May Cousins, through their annual summer trips to Cape May, NJ. It was these yearly reunions that fed his soul and strengthened his spirit. A larger-than-life PopPop to everyone, he became the Commander in Chief and lead Initiator of the "Over/Under Club" which will certainly carry on in honor of him.
Gary was a loving brother-in-law to Jeff Williams (Colin) and Jennifer Meisse (Rob) as well as a devoted uncle to Chris Letts, Brigitte (Colton) Sprague, Bria, Brynn and Miles Meisse. He loved a big family cookout where all of his people and grandpuppies (Brisket and Dandy) were together.
Simply put, PopPop savored every moment he had. He loved fully and selflessly, always taking care of everyone. He had a sense of joy that was unmatched and you couldn't help but feel warmth in his presence. They say that a person's life isn't measured by the number of years you've lived, but by the amount of life in your years. By those standards, our Gary lived many lifetimes.
A private ceremony will be held to celebrate Gary's life. For those would like to honor Gary's legacy, donations to The James Kidney Cancer and Research Fund will help sustain their commitment to treating and researching kidney cancer, a cause deeply important to Gary and his family.