<Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> (1953 - 08 - 20) August 20, 1953 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> March 20, 1981 (1981 - 03 - 20) (aged 27) Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. </Td> </Tr> <P> Gerry Bertier (pronounced with a hard "G" sound, as Gary) (August 20, 1953--March 20, 1981) was a prominent Alexandria, Virginia high school American football player . He is best known for his participation on the 1971 Virginia State Champion for football and wrestling and being the nephew of Howard Livingston T.C. Williams High School team and their portrayal in the Disney film Remember the Titans . Also attended Northern Virginia Community College . After the conclusion of the 1971 season, Bertier was involved in an automobile accident, that left him paralyzed from the waist down . Despite this injury, Bertier remained an active athlete, participating in the Paralympics and winning multiple medals, including a gold in shot - put . In 2006, Bertier's family started the "Gerry Bertier #42 Foundation", dedicated to raising money for research on spinal cord injuries . There is also a gymnasium at T.C. Williams which bears his name . </P> <P> Bertier's parents divorced when he was around age 8 and he was raised primarily by his mother, until she remarried to Robert Agnew . As a child and young man, Bertier was described as an amiable, goal - oriented individual . Growing up, Bertier frequently discussed his lifetime goal of winning a gold medal in the Olympics, and as an active participant in various athletics, seemed to be on track for this goal . </P>

Who dies at the end of remember the titans