Harvey Gaster

Harvey Gaster can almost claim to be a "founding father" of Humanists of Utah by virtue of his regular attendance of those first, fledgling, meetings nearly 11 years ago. Like the Energizer bunny, he's been going ever since. Not prone to histrionics or gregarious behavior, Harvey is the silent, eloquent type that is the "bricks and mortar" of H of U; without his steadfast participation since its inception, the HoU surely would bear less firm a foundation.

Born April 9, 1926 in Sheridan, Wyoming, Harvey attended elementary grades, junior high, and high school in Dayton, Wyoming. Although his mother considered herself Southern Baptist and his father Lutheran, neither parent practiced a religion in their home. In fact, Harvey's humanism and atheism may have stemmed from his folks implanting into his psyche that "there are a lot of religions out there, and that when he grows older, he can choose his own."

Because World War II was rearing its ugly head, rather than be drafted, Harvey enlisted in the Navy before completing high school. Considered a dry land sailor, meaning he never sailed upon the ocean blue, Harvey spent nearly two years stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. On Sundays, men had the choice to either clean barracks or attend church. No dummy, Harvey chose roaming from Catholic to Protestant meetings where he concluded that, "They couldn't all be right but that they could all be wrong."

After military service, he completed high school and some classes at Utah Technical College. While working for National Geophysical as a driller to locate oil, not to be confused with drilling oil, Harvey met and fell in love with Beulah Redding, the love of his life. After a short courtship, they were married November 17, 1949.

The couple has been graced with two children: Jim and Tammy. Before Tammy passed away in 1985 from multiple sclerosis, a wrenching life event, she had two children: Joshua and Shandi. When Shandi and fiancé Jimmy were married, Flo Wineriter performed the ceremony. A comment from one attending their wedding was "the word 'God' was not mentioned at all!" From this marriage was born great-granddaughter Jade, now 15 months old, the light of Harvey and Beulah's life. Despite the heartbreak of Tammy's death and related trials, Harvey and Beulah have a wonderful marriage of more than 50 years.

What turned Harvey onto humanism was that religion offered little more than superstition. Consequently, a concern for Harvey is the separation of church and state; currently he is concerned that the biblical Ten Commandments and the statement "In God we trust" will be inscribed on all public buildings. Harvey is also concerned about presidential candidate George Bush's cry for obliteration of public education which could result in religious schools taking over; his fear is this phenomenon could result in a situation similar to Ireland's.

Working an impressive nearly 33 years with Utah Power and Light, his longest position of installing commercial and industrial metering lasted 18 years. One day when telling co-workers he was an atheist, one response was, "Oh Harvey, you couldn't be. You're too good a person!" Yes, true blue and too good to be true, Harvey's steady presence is a bedrock of H of U, a source of glue and cement that helps bind us all together in furthering Humanist thought and action. Harvey, we appreciate you!

--Sarah Smith