Legendary high performance engine builder Earl Gaerte, 67, 615 Monroe St., Rochester, died at 8:53 a.m. Monday at Rivercrest Specialty Hospital, Mishawaka. Earl was born in Rochester on Dec. 20, 1943, to Claude Emmond and Catherine Marie (Michael) Gaerte. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1962. On March 14, 1965, Earl and Alice Faye Smith were married in Akron. She preceded him in death on June 18, 2005. In 1969, Gaerte Engines began with Earl building engines in his two car garage and quickly became one of the largest and most respected engine shops in short track racing. He was an innovator in sprint car and midget car racing. Earl loved both local and national racing and built engines for well-known racers such as Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. In June of 2007, Earl was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa. One of Earl's most recent accomplishments was building the engine for Jason Blonde, who established a new world record at Bristol Motor Speedway. Earl had a genuine love for the Rochester community and was an important part of the local government. His involvement in the community spanned several decades. He served on the FEDCO board of directors and executive committee from 1993-1994 and again from 2007-2010 and was a member of the 911 Communications Board in 1996 and again from 2001 to present. A Democrat, Earl was elected a Fulton County Councilman and served in that capacity from June 1992 to present. Earl was known as "E.G." to his fellow members of the Blacktop Cruisers Car Club and enjoyed building hot rods in his spare time. He was also a member of Good Guys Rod & Custom Association. Visitors would often find Earl plucking away at the strings of his Gibson guitar. He could also be seen driving his daughter Brenda's dog Nike, who he affectionately nicknamed "Buddy," through Dairy Queen for his weekly double cheeseburger. Earl spent many Friday nights with his dinner club buddies at local "garbage huts" and many Saturdays and Sundays at swap meets and car shows. He was a member of Old Crossroad Baptist Church, Gilead. He is survived by his daughter, Brenda Gaerte and dog Nike, Rochester; son Joe Gaerte and wife Kim, Plymouth; granddaughter Natalie; stepsister Eva Sanders, Chicago, Ill.; and cousins Dale and Sandra Beam, Sheridan. Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; mother Catherine Marie (Michael) Gaerte; and father Claude Emmond Gaerte. A celebration of the life of Earl Gaerte is at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev. Thad Stewart and the Rev. Jim Howard officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blacktop Cruisers Car Club or Old Crossroads Baptist Church of Gilead. Electronic expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at goodfamily@rtcol.com.