Charles Alfred Gibson

Obituary
CHARLES ALFRED GIBSON
CORTLAND - Longtime civic-minded Cortland resident, Charles Alfred Gibson, died August 25, 2006 after a short illness.The son of Alfred L. and Edith R. Gibson, Charles was born January 5, 1927, in Newcastle, Ontario, Canada. The youngest of six children, he emigrated from Canada to the United States with his family in 1933.Mr. Gibson attended high school in Cortland. However, his studies were interrupted during his senior year when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. His tour of duty took him to Japan immediately following World War II where he served as an Armored Artificer; he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. He finished his high school course work and then earned an economics degree from Hobart College.Mr. Gibson's first job was as a bank examiner for the federal government's Comptroller of the Currency in New York City. In 1956, he began his long association with First National Bank in Cortland. Hired as a trust officer, he remained with the bank for 33 years until his retirement in 1989 as a senior vice president and trust officer.Within the Cortland community, Mr. Gibson actively supported many causes and organizations. He served on the Cortland Memorial Hospital Board, and helped establish and was a charter member of the Cortland Memorial Hospital Foundation Board, serving 12 years as a board officer. He opened his home each year to host the hospital's "Harvest of Gold" gala fundraiser which attracted more than 500 guests.For the past two decades, Mr. Gibson served as a member of the Cortland Rural Cemetery Board, formerly serving as president, and helped establish its Foundation Board. He was instrumental in the renovation of the cemetery chapel into a columbarium and mausoleum.Mr. Gibson was also a longtime member of the SUNY Cortland Foundation Board of Directors. He received the President's Philanthropy Medal in 2001 for having established a SUNY Cortland scholarship to assist Cortland students studying abroad.Over the years, Mr. Gibson hosted many SUNY Cortland functions at his residence and housed many visiting dignitaries to the college. In 2002, through his generosity, Mr. Gibson helped the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association realize their dream of acquiring an Alumni House: the historic and magnificent Tompkins Street mansion, originally the residence of industrialist Charles Wickwire, Sr., then owned by Mr. Gibson. Mr. Gibson also donated some Gibson family furnishings. As a direct result of his generosity, SUNY Cortland claims to have the most beautiful alumni house in New York State and among the most impressive in the nation.In 2003, Mr. Gibson received the College-Community Appreciation Award from SUNY Cortland. In 2004, he was honored by the SUNY Cortland College Foundation with the Francis J. Cheney Award for Distinguished Philanthropy. Then in May 2006, he was inducted in to the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Studies.Since 1986, Mr. Gibson was a catalyst for the 1890 House Museum fundraising efforts as a member of that organization's Board of Directors. He also served on the vestry of Grace Episcopal Church in Cortland, was a strong supporter of the Franziska Racker Centers (for special children and adults), and opened his home to host a number of house and garden tours for local charities.Mr. Gibson served on the Tompkins Trust Company Business Development Board and is a 32nd degree Mason with Cortlandville Masonic Lodge 470. He has been a member of the Cortland Rotary Club, the Cortland Exchange Club, the Cortland Elks Club and the Cortland Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was a charter member and president of the Cortland Fund for Children. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Cortland Historical Society.In addition to his many community interests, Mr. Gibson was an avid gardener, antique collector and world traveler.Mr. Gibson is survived by his siblings, Thomas (Ruth) Gibson of Cortland, Murray (Nancy) Gibson of Connecticut, Margaret Gibson of Ithaca; and many nieces, nephews and family friends.Mr. Gibson was predeceased by his parents; and his sisters, Jean Gibson Suarez and Mary Gibson Sterling.His family will receive friends at his home at 4422 Cosmos Hill Road, Cortland, on Friday, September 1, 2006, from 4 - 7 p.m.Funeral Services will be held in Cortland at Grace Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 2, 2006, at 2:00 p.m.Interment will be private at the Cortland Rural Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be directed to either the Charles A. Gibson Scholarship Fund at SUNY Cortland, Grace Episcopal Church in Cortland, or the charity of one's choice.