While the world knows the Gerhart name for the heavy machinery and high-stakes excavations of Oak Island, the South Shore of Nova Scotia is mourning the loss of the man who laid the foundation for that legacy.
Edgar Gerhart, father of The Curse of Oak Island fan-favorite William “Billy” Gerhart, passed away this month at the age of 87, sparking a global wave of tributes from the historical treasure-hunting community.
A dedicated husband, vice president, and community pillar, Edgar Gerhart’s life was defined by a rare blend of professional precision and a legendary maritime sense of humor. A Life of Service and “Stone Trucks” Born in Riverport on August 16, 1935, Edgar’s career was a testament to Nova Scotian work ethic. He spent 44 years at the ABCO Group, rising through the accounting ranks to retire as the company’s Vice President.
However, those who knew him best understood that “retirement” was a relative term for a Gerhart. Upon leaving the corporate world, Edgar launched a second career that mirrored the grit seen on television today: driving a stone truck for the family business on a daily basis. It was this hands-on dedication to the family trade that paved the way for his son, Billy, to become the “superhuman” heavy equipment operator and Project Lead now central to the Lagina brothers’ mission. “Only the Good Die Young”
Beyond his professional accolades—which included serving as the honorary president of the Lunenburg swimming pool and supporting the Nova Scotia Fisheries Exhibition—Edgar was best known for his quick wit. When frequently asked the secret to his longevity, he was known to reply with a characteristic grin: “Only the good die young.” His obituary paints a picture of a man who refused to be idle, whether he was “plowing through” the Nova Scotian winters or navigating the wilder waters of the Atlantic in his beloved boat.
For over six decades, he remained the anchor for his wife, Sharon, their four children, and a growing lineage of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A “Superhuman” Connection The news of Edgar’s passing has resonated deeply with the Curse of Oak Island fandom. Though Billy Gerhart is known for his stoic, man-of-few-words demeanor on the History Channel series, fans have long attributed his “intelligent answers” and “almost superhuman” ability to move mountains of earth to the guidance of his father.
“I’m so sorry, Billy. Sending strength and comfort to you and the family,” wrote one viewer on a tribute page. Another added, “Go hop in that machine and find it for him, Billy.”
As the team recently uncovered a massive ramp in the swamp—a project Billy secured through a difficult permitting process—the latest episode’s dedication to Edgar served as a poignant reminder that while the search for gold continues, the real treasure of Oak Island has always been the family legacies forged in its soil. Edgar Gerhart was a man of the church, a man of the books, and ultimately, a man of the earth.
As the Gerhart family business continues to shape the landscape of Nova Scotia, Edgar’s presence will be felt in every stone truck that rolls across the island’s causeway.
