Gregory Winfield Gibbs

Gibbs, Gregory Winfield
November 9, 1968 - August 26, 2010. On August 26th, Greg Gibbs unexpectedly died in his Tempe, Arizona home. His passing leaves an enormous void in the lives of his family and friends; however, a collection of extraordinary memories remain. Greg collected toys, antiques, memorabilia-anything that "spoke" to him or that chronicled our lives, but he was quick to give away favorite treasures to anyone he thought would cherish them. Admitting his age but refusing to succumb to it, he helped form the Old Kooks skate-boarding club. But it was music that dominated his life. In high school, he formed his first band, The Watch. In Tempe, his most recent collaboration, The Elders UK, was reuniting this weekend for a Labor Day gig. He also performed with Audra, Souls Whirling Somewhere, and Second Skin in local clubs. He simply was doing what he loved, and he loved everything he did. In all that he was, Greg embodied our passions, our playfulness, our creativity, our searching for meaning-and left us all an archive of his life that will forever serve as inspiration to live more for the moment. Greg attended Perrysburg (Ohio) High School and graduated from Kenston High School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio where he was goalie on the varsity soccer team and played baritone in the band. He studied at Ricks College in Idaho and Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, and was a graduate of the Phoenix, Arizona Roberto-Venn Luthiery School (guitar-making) in 2006. Greg is survived by his devoted wife and love of his life, Maresa (Filippini) and his adored daughter, Katherine (Kate) Oman of Poland OH; his mother, Marcia Gibbs of Orem UT; his father Richard; and six siblings-brothers, Chad (Patsy) of Fort Collins CO, Todd (Nancy) of Highlands Ranch CO, Ben (Danielle) of Orem UT; sisters, Elizabeth Bradley (Dave) of Collingswood NJ, Melissa Foreman (Tim) of Carlisle PA, and Anne Gish (Jerry) of Littleton CO. He was the favorite uncle of 21 Gibbs nieces and nephews. His family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity that Greg supported, the Tempe Chapter of ARC (http:www.tempearc.org/donate.html). A memorial service will be held on Friday evening, September 3rd from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Bunker Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa AZ.