Vitas Gerulaitis Death
Vitas passed away on September 18, 1994 at the age of 40 in Long Island, New York, USA. Vitas's cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning at a friend`s home.
When did Vitas Gerulaitis die?
September 18, 1994How did Vitas Gerulaitis die? What was the cause of death?
Carbon monoxide poisoning at a friend`s homeHow old was Vitas Gerulaitis when died?
40Where did Vitas Gerulaitis die? What was the location of death?
Long Island, New York, USA
Vitas Gerulaitis Birthday and Date of Death
Vitas Gerulaitis was born on July 26, 1954 and died on September 18, 1994. Vitas was 40 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: July 26, 1954
Date of Death: September 18, 1994
Age at Death: 40
Vitas Gerulaitis - Biography
Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis (July 26, 1954 – September 17, 1994) was a Lithuanian American professional tennis player. In 1975, Gerulaitis won the men's doubles title at Wimbledon, partnering with Sandy Mayer. He won the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977 (Gerulaitis won the tournament that was held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament). Gerulaitis also won two Italian Open titles, in 1977 and 1979, and the WCT Finals in Dallas, in 1978.
Gerulaitis died on September 17, 1994, at the age of 40. While he was visiting a friend's home in Southampton, New York, an improperly installed pool heater caused carbon monoxide gas to seep into the guesthouse where Gerulaitis was sleeping, causing his death by carbon monoxide poisoning. Gerulaitis failed to show up for a dinner at 7 p.m. that evening and his body was found the following day by a maid who went to the guesthouse. Gerulaitis' remains were interred in Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Criminal charges of negligent homicide were later brought against the pool mechanic and the company he worked for. Both he and the company were acquitted at a trial approximately two years later in October 1996. Jurors heard testimony that a technician from the heater manufacturer had made adjustments several days before Gerulaitis' death and that even if an exhaust pipe had been longer, carbon monoxide (colorless and odorless) would have still been drawn into the air-conditioning vent because it is heavier than air.
Arthur M. Luxenberg, a lawyer for the Gerulaitis family, stated that Gerulaitis' mother and sister believed the verdict to be fair, and he went on to state that the testimony at the trial "confirmed to us what we always knew: that there were a lot of other people involved in this matter."
