Vincent Gordon Gibbs

Mr. Gibbs was one of those rare individuals that truly impact lives. His gift to me was opera. He taught this pot-smoking hippie kid from Peary HS in 1974 how to listen to and hear opera. Miraculous! And I have loved it my whole life, even if I lacked Mr. Gibbs' gift of inspiring others to listen! I wish I would have known of his passing, I would have loved to attend his memorial. I have thought of Mr. Gibbs often since 1974 with love and much appreciation. He was a firefly in my often dark...

Today is National Teacher's day. The local morning radio show I listen to was talking about teachers that inspired you. Mr. Gibbs came to mind. He was my high school English teacher at Wheaton High School. His love and passion for literature was amazing and he taught me to look for meaning below the surface. Not just in books but in life as well. To always look for the beauty in things. I googled him and was saddened to hear of his passing but it made me happy to see that he had touched the...

Mr. Gibbs was my English teacher as well in the 1960's at Robert E. Peary High School. He was a wonderful teacher, and was such a kind, caring soul. I will never forget this wonderful man. May the Peace of the Lord be with You! Traci Williams

I have been talking about Mr. Gibbs for fifty years. He was an amazing influence and a deeply inspiring man.

P.S.--forgot to include among the new (to us) forms of art: classics of early American film.

Mr. Gibbs dared us to get over our knee-jerk reactions ("it's dumb, it's stupid, it stinks") to things like ballet, opera, classical music, poetic texts, and, of course, theatrical art. If we rose to the challenge (and most everyone did), if we responded to Swan Lake with wonder and began to sing along with every aria in Carmen, it was his achievement--and a staggering one at that. Thank you, Mr. Gibbs, for the worlds you opened up to us and for believing we had it in us to revel in them.

My husband and I were in the graduating class at Holmes with Vincent. We had the pleasure of being in Flats and Cues with him. Vincent was a good actor back them. He showed more promise than the rest of us. He had a gift. I´m so glad he had the opportunity to share his gift with others. Rest in peace Vincent

He was one of my several Yodas. He instilled my first "try not: DO" instinct that has lasted my whole life since. He will be remembered. Chris Buppert, '67

What can you say ? He was a teacher who touched lives. A life well lived. R.I.P. Mr. Gibbs, you will be missed.