Beloved Professor and Scholar Gill Dies
Tributes to Gerald Gill This page is closed for submissions. Thank you for sharing and reading these remembrances of Prof. Gill. 10.17.07
It is just now (October 16, 2007)that I have been able to read all of the many wonderful tributes to my father. I was and am humbled by the outpouring of admiration and appreciation for the man I only knew as "Dad." I find a great deal of comfort in knowing that my father was surrounded by so many who loved him so much.
10.29.07
I miss him.
10.10.07
I was in the first American History class Prof. Gill taught at Tufts in 1980, my freshman year. As a newly minuted professor, his lecturing style was initially a little halting -- I think he was probably nervous to stand in front of a big lecture hall of students, but he quickly warmed to the task, and to his students, as the semester went on. He was such a genuine and warm person, willing to engage in extended discussions after class when we had questions or wanted to learn more. You could really tell that he was passionate about his subject and that he cared deeply for his students. I was so glad to hear that he had gone on to become one of Tufts most beloved and popular professors. I am truly saddened by his untimely passing, and will always remember him fondly.
10.2.07
Professor Gerald Gill was my advisor when I attended Tufts University from 1983-1987. I am saddened by his death, but feel honored and blessed that I was able to have his wisdom, love and guidance lead me throughout my time at the university. When I think of Professor Gill, my memories are fond, warm and encouraging. He is an important figure who helped guide me to a better understanding of my connection to the African diaspora. I am grateful for who he was for me and what he so effortlessly inspired in me. He will be missed deeply. However, I am comforted by the fact that his soul is at peace and that his spirit will live on forever.
9.22.07
I co-taught a course on the American South with Gerry when I was an adjunct faculty member in the English department at Tufts in the 1990s. Gerry was incredibly kind, generous, and supportive; he made me feel that we were truly a teaching team and that we were both learning from one another. He, of course, was so much more learned than I can ever hope to be. In recent years, I saw Gerry from time to time when I would come to attend talks or use the library at Tufts. His wonderful smile-- sometimes joyous, sometimes wistful-- was filled with warmth and welcome. Dear Gerry, I will miss your presence dearly.
9.20.07
The sudden passing, at a young age, of Professor Gerald Gill is very sad and sobering to all who knew and loved him. There is no one closer or dearer to me in my work life than was Professor Gill. As I glance at his handsome picture, there for years on the corkboard in the corner of my office, my eyes fill with tears for a moment almost every day now. We were privileged to have had him with us in this life. We are enriched by the memories he's left with us; at the same time our loss is very deep because he was the best of everything--in his quiet, cheerful, comforting, very dedicated and wise, wonderful ways--therefore the void he leaves is immense, and so is how much we miss him. 9.19.07
On the first day of African American History class, Professor Gill seemed gruff as he discussed his expectations and course topics. But soon he softened into a well-practiced lecture style, and I could feel his decency radiating towards all the students in the room. I appreciated the fact that with often racially-charged course material he favored neither party; either historically or in his class. The work exposed me to first-hand slave narratives and female perspectives on the Bermuda cotton plantations. Although his lectures' were never lacking in seriousness, I still felt uplifted at the conclusion. 9.16.07
I was Gerald's physician for several years. I was very fond of him. He always seemed to me a man of exceptional sweetness.
9.14.07
When I found out about Prof. Gill's passing, I was deeply saddened, as I am now just writing these comments. Prof. Gill was not only my advisor and mentor, he was the only person on Tufts campus who helped me find a way to stay at Tufts when my family was going through financial difficulty. Without Prof. Gill, I would have had to leave Tufts. 9.14.07
Thank you Professor Gill for making your students think at a higher level of understanding than they could before meeting you. Thank you for taking the time and putting in every effort not only to teach, but to listen and understand. This is how you brought foolish students like me into some greater understanding.
9.14.07
He was a talented and passionate teacher who cared not only about history but his students. His passing is a loss to the university, his family, and those who were privileged to share his classroom.
9.11.07
Prof. Gill was a pillar of the Tufts' Community. He was one of the few people who would stop and ask you how you were doing and truly wanted to know. His passion for teaching drew me into his classroom. I learned a tremendous deal from Prof. Gill. It was truly an honor to have been one of his students. He has shaped so many lives. He will be deeply missed.
9.11.07
African American graduates of Tufts from yesteryear, will always be indebted to Gerald Gill for his book, articles, and photo exhibit of Another Light on the Hill which shared information about Tufts African American graduates. How many other Universities have such a legacy? As a member of the Dugger family, I am particularly appreciative of his remembrances of my brother Eddie, my brother Cortland and myself. As a person who went to Tufts at a time when racism could be blatant with no apologies, I am pleased to see the outpouring of love and affection for Professor Gill and to see the Tufts community and Tuft administrators giving him the great praise which he so richly deserved.
9.11.07
Professor Gill, 9.4.07
Professor Gill was my very first teacher at Tufts when I took African American History Pre-1865 in the fall of my freshman year. Little did I know on that first day, that he would go on to be one of the most inspiring professors I would ever have the privilege to encounter. I went on to take three more classes with him and had no doubt that I would chose him as my senior thesis adviser. I will never forget days spent in his office my senior year, his desk overflowing with paper and books, yet he somehow always knew where everything was and could pull the exact book that he was looking for instantly off his shelf. Going over the endless red marker revisions on my thesis, he never made me feel frustrated, only challenged to continue to push myself. Like so many other students have articulated, I cannot imagine Tufts without him, and I so regret that I haven't seen him since graduation and that he wasn't able to read all these amazing trib! utes when he was alive. His memory as a unparalleled teacher and profound human being will forever live on. I only hope his unfortunate passing will remind us all to be more expressive to the people that mean so much in our daily lives.
8.30.07
I really loved professor Gill and burst into tears when I first read of his passing. His two African American History classes were among my favorite classes during my entire undergraduate education. He was an amazing teacher and one of the main reasons I chose my major: American Studies with a focus on African American History and Music, and he was one of my senior thesis advisors. He was so kind and patient yet always expected you to do your best and be at the top of your game. He inspired me to be more studious then I ever had before. I am very sad that no more students will be able to learn all that he could teach them. Professor Gill changed me, changed the way I viewed what it meant to be an American, and along the way lifted me up to believe in myself and challenge myself more. I will miss just knowing he was in the world, being himself and spreading good vibes and good deeds. When I visit Tufts I will be sad that he is not there.! May you rest in peace, Gerald Gill.
8.29.07
Professor Gill was without a doubt one of the most generous, caring, dedicated, genuine people I have ever met. I was leaving the History department orientation at Fordham University where I will be earning my masters in US History, when I learned of his passing. Ironic because Professor Gill was a tremendous inspiration to me, at Tufts and after, and was a major contributing factor to my decision to return to school. His passing was premature, but his legacy will never die. Anyone who was fortunate enough to cross paths with Professor Gill is a better person because of that encounter.
8.28.07
Dr. Gill was my advisor and a father-in-residence while I was an undergraduate at Tufts. I am truly broken up to hear about his passing. I always looked forward to seeing him when I visted campus. I only hope that I will be able to impact future generations of students at least a millionth of the way that Dr. Gill has to so many Tufts students.
With much adulation for the man that truly was the "light on the hill ... "
8.28.07
My last class with Professor Gerald Gill was Sports in American History, in the spring of 2001. I remember as if it was yesterday, rushing into the lecture hall, hoping to find a seat in the overflowing auditorium, and actually feeling disappointed if I missed even a minute of the meticulously prepared, passionate and compelling lectures. The class and teacher were thus very unusual. For a subject that the corporate media has largely has stripped of its historical soul, social context, racist legacy and most important struggles and achievements, Professor Gill captured the essence of the game. He powerfully revealed what lies behind the contemporary varnish of sports in a way the Sports Channel, ESPN, and the supposedly witty broadcasters spewing out the play by play with all their air time and massive resources should also, but rarely if ever do. 8.23.07
Professor Gill was an outstanding professor and amazing human being. He always found time to have one-on-one meetings, even though his schedule was as staked as the towers of papers--and books--all over his office!! 8.23.07
Gerald Gill is the greatest professor I ever had. Incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, and inspiring, he was a role model for all. He had an ease and confidence that allowed you to be yourself and an inviting gaze. 8.17.07
Professor Gill was one of the most special people in my life -- both during my years at Tufts and post-graduation. Since graduating, I have not made any major academic or professional decision without first listening to his words of wisdom and advice. During my years at Tufts, I was often found lurking in the halls of the history building, waiting for Gill to get out of a meeting with another student or another professor. 8.17.07
This is such terribly sad news. It is hard to find adequate words... So here's an excerpt from a letter I wrote to Gerry a few years back. 8.15.07
Until recently, I never stopped to think about the little moments that change your life forever. I happened to take Professor Gill's class in my freshman year because it sounded interesting. After the first day, I recruited my roommate because I knew it was going to be a great course. Because of Gerald Gill, I threw over my international relations plans and became a history major. He was my advisor. When I co-taught a history course for first-year students, he was our mentor. Because of Professor Gill, I interned with Blackside Films to work on the War on Poverty series--fulfilling my fascination with political history. 8.15.07
I was shocked and saddened to learn of the loss of Gerry Gill. He was a highly valued colleague and a respected member of the Tufts community. I was always touched by his kindness and civility. He will be greatly missed.
8.15.07
Wow!! What a loss...!! I can't imagine what my college experience would have been like without Professor Gill. As a young woman who traveled across the country and so far from home, I was comforted by his fatherly influence. Thru his warm smile and caring eyes, he gave support and a sense that 'everything would be alright'. He was so knowledgeable in his field but didn't wear it on his sleve or smear it in your face. He taught in such a subtle but impactful way. I hope that he rests in peace and that his departure from this world was as calm as the demeanor he always projected.
8.14.07
I was drawn to the writings about this beloved friend, faculty member, and mentor and read them with sadness - initially. The sadness truly was such that I regretted not knowing this distinguished gentleman better than I did. As an employee-colleague, I was aware of his reputation and contributions to Tufts somewhat from afar, always hearing of him in warm and admiring terms. 8.14.07
I was most saddened and distressed to hear of Professor Gill's passing. I was saddened for his family and friends and for Tufts. They have lost a great man. I was distressed that I did not keep in better touch with him over the years. I took two American History courses with Professor Gill in the early 80's. His enthusiasm and caring developed for me a lifelong love of history. I ran into him him some years later walking in Somerville. He instantly remebered me and we had a great chat about life and careers. He was so thoughtful and kind. Tufts has lost a gem. 8.13.07
Gerald Gill's death is an unimaginable loss to all of us. He was a friend of the entire community. There was nobody that he didn't love and nobody that didn't love him. One of the best, ever. 8.13.07
Losing Gerry is a shock. While back in the US in July, I had planned to join Gerry and my father for dinner (he was a former neighbor of my Dad's in Cambridge.) While at Tufts in the early 80s, Gill was my advisor for a one-semester work study assignment at the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination. I was a history major interested in policy, and luckily Gerry was interested in both and willing to sponsor me. People mention Gerry's patience, openness and erudition - all qualities I greatly valued. But most of all I appreciated his singular perspective on historical events and the week's news, which we often discussed on my Dad's porch after Gerry had finished his Sunday morning ritual of reading the newspaper cover to cover. I will miss him. My deepest symphathies go to his daughter Ayanna and sisters Wille and Mary. 8.10.07
I am so sad to hear this terrible news. He was such a kind man and such an inspiring teacher. I took only one class with him at Tufts, as a Senior (which left me regretting that I had not taken them all), and later I had an experience that so many others seem to have had. TEN YEARS LATER, when I came back for Homecoming, I ran into him in the library, and approached him to say hello and tell him how much I had enjoyed his class. He recalled my name immediately, and was so kind and gracious. Tufts has suffered a tremendous loss. 8.9.07
Professor Gill (who for years asked me to call him Gerald to no avail) was my advisor and my dear, trusted friend. We grew up in the same home town - New Rochelle, New York - and we both attended Trinity Elementary School, though obviously not at the same time. Professor Gill knew my mother, a teacher in the New Rochelle public schools, and when I approached him during my first year at Tufts, he not only remembered my mother and some of her teacher friends, but he spontaneously sang the entire Trinity school alma mater. 8.9.07
I worked at Tufts from 1987 - 1998. Gerald was such a kind soul who always took the time to say hello, ask questions, and listen. May he rest in peace. 8.8.07
I didn’t really know Professor Gerald Gill until the start of my sophomore year at Tufts, when our bond formed immediately. Calling me into his office after class one day, he asked about a paper I had written for another class about the racist practices of a visiting history professor. As deputy chair of the department, he wanted to know all the details as this professor’s contract was up for renewal. After a closed door discussion that lasted the better part of an hour, the result was clear. Professor Gill took his students seriously, not just as his students, but as people he cared for and therefore cared to hear their opinions. 8.7.07
Talking to Gerald Gill was like reading a poem that is soothing to the heart. He was a gift to Humanity and I will always remember him as a very special person as I fondly recall conversations we shared over the years at Tufts.
8.7.07
When I went off to Tufts, my father mentioned something about a college classmate of his teaching history. So, during the fall of my junior year, I finally followed up and enrolled in a seminar class with Professor Gill. 8.6.07
Prof. Gill represented all that is good in the academic world and the faculty commitment to the student body at large. He was a true giant, dare I say a - 'Jumbo', among faculty and students. His like will never again grace the campus of Tufts University.
8.6.07
Professor Gill was an amazing friend, mentor, and professor. I was a Balfour scholar and was assigned to work with him on a project of African Americans at Tufts. He knew EVERY African American that went to Tufts starting in the 1800s. I was completely floored by his knowledge and dedication to his craft; teaching and mentoring the people around him. I can not believe that I will not see Professor Gill the next time I visit Tufts, but what I know is that I am a better person having met him!
8.6.07
Professor Gill was my advisor, my professor, and my friend. I arrived at Tufts a white kid from the suburbs who's view of history - not to mention the present - was confined to the color of my own skin. Professor Gill changed all that. I took two courses with him on African-American history and one on the civil rights movement. All of them, particuarly the latter, changed the way I thought about my country, my adopted city, my university and, indeed, my own life. I ended up doing independent research in his class on the history of race protests at Tufts and applied much of what Profssor Gill taught me when I went to write for a black newspaper in Boston. 8.5.07
Gerry Gill was one of the most gifted professors I've ever encountered. I was pursuing my MAT in secondary school teaching at Tufts in 1998-99 and heard vague rumors to the effect of "you can't leave Tufts without taking a course with Gerry Gill." Trying to get into his course was no small feat. Filled, waiting lists, and no point trying were among the refrains I heard. There were desperate-looking students lining the corridors outside of his office. 8.3.07
Gerald's reach was campus-wide. In past years, he offered encouragement and advice about several of my teaching interests. Each of our chance connections on campus revealed exceptional sincerety toward and interest in other people. The one person I wanted my son ('06) to study with was Gerald, and this experience eventually came about. On a number of occasions, Gerald's students interviewed me about my life in the South during the Civil Rights era. I never imagined that these experiences would be so useful, but his students' interest in my story convinced me otherwise. What a gift to know that I could enrich the study of Civil Rights history in this way. When my mother-in-law was in a nursing home, my husband and I used to dine at a small Greek restaurant near her on Friday nights. What do you know, but Gerald would be there with several Tufts colleagues enjoying a good meal. He often broke conversation with his dinner partners to chat ! with us for a few minutes, and we enjoyed the fact that not many people knew about the place. We could always get a table on a Friday night even though the food was excellent. (It later closed for lack of business!) 8.3.07
Professor Gill was a kind, thoughtful, brilliant, compassionate (and passionate) teacher and human being. If every student in America could have a teacher like him, and every one of us could be the kind of friend to others that Gerry was, this would be a far different -- and far better -- world. He will be sorely missed but so, so fondly remembered.
8.3.07
Gerald and I lived near each other in Cambridge for a time. One day we met on Broadway and walked along talking. He pointed out some brownstones and gave me a history lesson about the ownership of the brownstones. He told me something I did not know as a life-long Cambridge resident. He told me those brownstones had been owned by African-American families and that only two now remained in the hands of African-American families with one of them soon to become owned by someone else. Here I was a Cantabrigian and he told me something I did not know. I loved him as a human being and will miss him.
8.3.07
I am saddened to hear of Professor Gill's passing. My condolences to his family and to the Tufts Community. He will be missed. 8.3.07
He was the professor that always greeted you and asked about how you were and stopped to listen. He was kind, a great listener and always wore smiling. He will be greatly missed.
8.3.07
I never took a course with Professor Gill, yet from my interactions with him throughout my years at Tufts, he fast became one of my favorite professors at Tufts. I was first struck by his warmth and genuine interest in the students around him while working behind the check-out counter of the Tufts media center. I worked on days that he taught a course there so saw him almost weekly. He was one of the few people to introduce himself to the new face behind the counter (me) and strike up a conversation that we continued each week. In later years I turned to Professor Gill for guidance and always left his office with good advice. I was never unimpressed. 8.3.07
Professor Gill gave a lecture at a workshop for high school teachers I was running at Tufts one summer. Though he was only contracted to give one three hour talk, he came back everyday that week and led extra sessions, showed more movies, and shared his boundless knowledge with all of us. Most amazingly, though not really for those of us who knew him, every single person stayed for all of these extra sessions. He had a gift and a passion for sharing that gift, and because of his dedication and compassion, Tufts and the world as a whole is a much better place.
8.2.07
Gerry and I were classmates at Lafayette. We reunited when my son went to Tufts and took one of his classes. He was a remarkable man and a great teacher. Warm and caring, brilliant and accomplished. This is a very sad moment, but all of us who knew him had our lives enriched by him.
8.2.07
One summer in the late 1980s, a several faculty members met regularly to discuss ways of bringing interdisciplinary perspectives to our courses. Gerald was a member of that group, and his passion for baseball was soon revealed. I was amazed to discover, however, that in the ten years or so he had been at Tufts he had never been to a game at Fenway Park. It so happened I had two skybox seats for the game the next night, and I invited Gerald to join me. He agreed, and said he'd meet me at the seats. When I arrived, Gerald had already been there for a couple of hours--not to watch batting practice, but to walk around the park to find his comfort zone. He was, of course, highly attuned to the racism associated with Boston in general and the Red Sox in particular. He needed that time to get used to the idea of being in that space. 8.2.07
I met Dr. Gill in the summer of 2004 when I came to Tufts as an NEH Fellow. Dr. Gill was a presenter in one of the sessions on Africans and the Making of America. His first hand knowledge of the historical period I was so interested in, (the '60's) was impressive. I spoke with him after the seminar about my interest in the Black Panther movement. The next day, he brought memorabilia from his own collection and it was priceless to me. I was so grateful that he took the time to listen to my ideas and make me feel that my interest had scholarly value. Our few conversations that summer were not enough and I always hoped one day I'd see him again.
8.2.07
Some of us knew Professor Gill as an instructor, others as an adviser, academic or organizational consultant, mentor, coworker but all of us knew him as a great trustworthy and dedicated friend. It is funny when I was reading the articles I just started to reflect on how popular Professor Gill was. So popular he did not check emails or return phone calls because so many people wanted get in contact with him. I remember one day when I asked him why he did not check emails. He said and I quote, "I don't do the email thing, if people really want to get in touch with me they should be able to find me". I think that quote by our dear Professor goes on to exemplify a strong part of his character. He made his students and all those he could reach appreciate the value of what it meant to work for something you believed in. When I think of his lectures and how he stressed the difficult processes, the failures, the successes, and the rewards of social movements like the post slavery and civil rights movements the ideal that nothing good comes easy and without sacrifice stands out. Having Professor Gill as an instructor at Tufts was a great thing for Tufts University and his life long achievements and work are testament to those principles. I strongly feel that Professor Gill presented himself as a father figure to his students. Whether it was through his fluid and enthusiastic lectures, his deep concern for the overall wellness of his advisees, his consideration for circumstance or the consistent encouragement he provided to student leaders. He made sure that his role, as a professor was not just limited inside the four walls of a lecture hall. The former TCU President and a close friend of mine Mitchell Robinson always use to tell me "The greatest gift you can give someone is a piece of yourself." Professor Gill gave more than himself to Tufts, he gave a vision that upheld the Universities mission but also strengthened the students it served. Despite his accomplishments, Professor Gill always remained humble. He saw what he was doing as only natural and that every one of us who were dedicated had the ability to do the same thing. He did not think there was anything spectacular with what he had accomplished. When we at the Emerging Black Leaders tried to name an award after him, he turned us down saying that he was "just a Professor" when he was not. Professor Gill affected my life as well as several of his students. I will sincerely miss Professor Gill. I am going to miss walking into his office stepping over all the sport memorabilia, the countless amounts of books, notes, newspaper clippings and historical items that he had collected in his oh so populated office. I will miss talking to him in Hotung about the Emerging Black Leaders, or the Black Men's Group. Running into him on the library steps and talking about sports. Learning about how his life correlated with significant events in black history. As a young man whom can count on one hand how many Black male teachers that I have had in my life, Professor Gill is going to hold very special place in my heart. I, along with several others who had the privilege of knowing Professor Gill will miss him for the Professor he was, the man he is, the friend, mentor and leader he will always be.
8.2.07
There was a man who treated everyone equal. I never took his class nor worked with him. I met him once and from then on he remembered my name and always said "hello", as we passed each other on campus. The only time he might have missed our hello's was when he was deep in thought - advising a student whom their life he touch also.
I am saddened that I will not see his kind, warm face again on these grounds -however I will always remember him.
8.2.07
The loss of Gerald Gill is a great tragedy to Tufts, individual students, and the academic world in general. As a librarian with a background in and a love of history, Gerald used my talents to give his students guidance and instruction on how to do library research, especially using primary sources. He valued Tisch Library and wanted his students to learn how to do great research here and in other libraries and archives wherever information for their topic may have been found. He wanted them to do original research. Students who learned from him are well set on to the road of doing advanced research and great scholarship. 8.2.07
As an editor at the University of Massachusetts Press (now retired)I was pleased and honored to work for many years with Gerry Gill toward publication of his important research on race relations in Boston. He was one of the most gracious and well-informed authors I ever met, with a deep devotion to his students and Tufts University. I fear that devotion kept him from completing this work. It is a loss both to the scholarly community and the general public in Boston that Gerry left us before he could publish the book he worked on so long. I will cherish his memory.
8.2.07
As a graduate student in history at Tufts, I had the utmost privilege to serve at Gerry Gill's teaching assistant for History 96, African American History Since 1865. My experience working with him was one of the most enjoyable times of my graduate education. As an advisor, a mentor, and a role model, he instilled in me the belief that the study of history could be used to bridge the cultural gaps in our society. In that cluttered archives of an office, he criticized my discussion sections, offered suggestions on my lecturing style, and ripped apart my papers, but in the kindest and least demeaning way possible. And when I thought about obtaining a doctoral degree in American History, he cheered me on, helped me research possible schools, and read over my applications. It is now, six years later, as I work on my dissertation, that I realize the impact he has had on my life. He will be terribly missed.
8.2.07
The world is a much, much impoverished by the passing of Gerry Gill. I first met Gerry when he was a fellow at Harvard's Du Bois Institute and I was a new assistant professor of French at Harvard with an office on the same floor as the Institute. It has never occurred to me that it was unusual that I should get to know Gerry under such circumstances until reading all these tributes and from the many people he talked to in so many different circumstances. 8.2.07
Gerry was a classmate of mine at Lafayette College, and a friend. We shared discussions and thoughts during our college years, and when he came back for our reunions. His influence on those who appreciated the power of his ideas and the cogency of his thought was immense. His loss as a presence goes well beyond those who were students and faculty members at Tufts; his circle of contact spread like ripples in a brook to a much wider community. He will be missed greatly by all who had a chance to be part of his life.
8.2.07
Gerald was a dear friend and will always remain dear to me. Gerald seemed always to be in deep thought and what a pleasure and blessing it was when he would share something he was thinking about or something he remembered about our friendship. The very idea that he would remember some little (and to me insignificant)thing I said or did years ago made me feel special when in his presence and encouraged me to try to do the same for others. 8.2.07
If everyone walked these campus grounds being as compassionate, friendly, humble and respectful and caring to others as Gerry was his legacy would live on forever. He was always so kindhearted. Tufts lost a great man who dedicated his LIFE to this institution. 8.2.07
I've only been at Tufts for two years, but with Gerry slight acquaintance was enough to inspire profound admiration. He was an endlessly obliging and thoughtful colleague and a self-sacrificially dedicated teacher. His notoriously chaotic room belied his perfectly organized mind. You could rely on him to do every task with uncompromising rigour and unfailing efficiency. From students, he won affection without stinting on candor. He is strictly irreplaceable: his indefatigability and unique good humor enlivened the history department and enhanced life.
8.2.07
I took my first class with Professor Gill the very first semester of my freshman year. I hadn't intended to take a history class, but at the urging of a new friend of mine, I filled the void in my schedule with Professor Gill's African American History until 1865. This friend of mine had been introduced to Professor Gill as a pre-frosh, and had become enamored with his breadth and depth of knowledge, as well as his quirky wit and incredible ability to remember people. Each day after class, my friend and I would sit on the grass outside the Crane Room, waiting for Professor Gill to emerge after talking with students. During those post-class talks, I came to know Professor Gill well. He and I started a good-natured rivaly about our baseball allegiances (anyone who ever took a class with Gill knows he is a die hard Yankees fan- I, on the other hand, am a Sox and Mets fan). As the semester progressed, Professor Gill became an increasingly strong presence in my life. As my interest in history developed, and the Red Sox got closer to the World Series, our after-class chats became longer and more involved. When the Sox were three games down in the ALCS that year, I made a bet with Professor Gill: I believed the Sox could come back, and if so, he had to wear a Red Sox cap to class; if the Yankees won, I got to skip class that entire week to mourn. Well, to all who remember the fall of 2004, I won that bet. And sure enough, the day after the Sox had completed their "impossible" comeback, Professor Gill walked into class sheepishly, then broke into his unforgettable grin as he announced to the class that he had a bet he needed to make good on, and placed a Sox cap on his head. The hat stayed there only for a minute, but I'll remember that moment for a lifetime. 8.2.07
Gerald Gill was a man of vision and commitment. He was a captivating teacher and speaker and he had the rare quality of being patient and interested in listening to others. He was a curious and passionate scholar. Gerald was unswerving in his friendship and he had only friends. He had legions of friends where most have acquaintances. He had a wonderful perspective on the things in life that are important and he dreamed of a better world and worked tirelessly to make it so. He was a constant source of encouragement and guidance to colleagues and students. Gerald was called upon endlessly for help. He made an important difference in so many ways year after year--because of his dedication, insight, judgment, and the respect for his quiet leadership. He frequently helped bring people together to find the way through critical, complex and volatile issues to achieve meaningful progress and a better understanding. 8.2.07
I spent the weekend and the past several days thinking about our beloved colleague and teacher Gerald Gill by composing something to honor his memory--a piano piece called "Quiet Moan" that uses the first few notes of the melody of the spiritual "We Shall Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death," but can't quite go on with the full tune. 8.1.07
Professor Gill was the heart and soul of Tufts University. He represented the very best of what this place has to offer. His primary concern was always his students, he put them above everything else in his professional life. Whenever a student needed him to write a recommendation, chair a thesis committee, supervise an independent study, go to bat with the Dean, Professor Gill never said no. Even as he planned to go on a well earned leave this coming fall to finish his latest book, he had already signed on to direct two theses and serve as second reader on a third. He never wanted to let his students down, he always wanted to support them and encourage them. 8.1.07
I was, like everyone, shocked and deeply saddened by Gerald's untimely passing. Gerald was, as many have written, a kind, gentle, erudite man who inspired many, mentored countless others, and was a shining example of a true scholar. I will miss him a great deal.
8.1.07
I cannot imagine Tufts without Professor Gill. He was my advisor, mentor, advocate and friend, helping to shape my academic career at Tufts and beyond. I will miss his warm smile and infectious laugh and feel so honored to have known such a wonderful person.
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Professor Gerald Gill possessed, and shared, the gift of presence. He was fully present to people - faculty colleagues, his (and others') students, and the university's invaluable staff in its many places and roles. 8.1.07
There are few members of the Tufts Community-- indeed of any community-- who so completely and gracefully practiced the most honored tenets of the community on a daily basis. Through the most casual chatter and through the most intellectual and emotional debates, Professor Gill stoked undergraduate embers of pluralism and curiosity in a most brilliant and compassionate manner. What cheer we feel to invoke his memories! What gratefulness we celebrate by cherishing his mentorship!
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Nobody will ever be as generous and tolerant and incisive as Gerry. He poured himself out to all of us, giving us the inspiration to care and the courage to be critical. He was always working for the good, working to understand and to change history, to help remake the culture, and was never too busy to do so much more than anybody else. He never seemed to stop to rest. Students, colleagues, friends, we all gained so much from his sweet brilliance, his compassion, and his unflagging energy. I can't believe that he is gone. East Hall will be empty without his presence and cold without his warmth. We will all be poorer for his absence, and richer for having known him. There has truly never been anyone like him. God, he will be missed.
8.1.07
I wasn't a history major, nor did I have any idea who Gerald Gill was before I signed up for his class. Immediately, his passion for history was clear, even on days he hadn't carried two duffel bags full of jerseys and memorabilia to class. Prof. Gill made me excited to learn an important part of American history. I feel lucky to have taken a class with him. I learned so much from him that semester and often think about just how much I grew by interviewing three people involved in the civil rights movement. I'll never forget the day I went to his office at the end of the semester and he greeted me by my first name, despite the fact that I had never introduced myself. Every time I pass through Harlem, I will forever and always remember Professor Gill.
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Words cannot express my love for Prof. Gill; my gratitude for everything he gave me as my advisor, my teacher, and as a scholar; nor my deep and profound sense of utter loss and sadness.
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As so many students know, you could walk by East Hall at anytime during the day and find Professor Gill there. Oftentimes his light was on well into the night. This simple fact is a testament to the amount of time and energy Progessor Gill gave to Tufts and, most of all, its students. 8.1.07
An incredible inspiration... Professor Gill was the perfect advisor. He always knew when to challenge a student, or when to simply mentor. I'm so glad to have had the chance to have known him as an advisee and as a friend.
8.1.07
On graduation day, after receiving my diploma, I faced the outstretched hands of the dauntingly long line of professors. Half-way through, I reached Professor Gill. I shook his hand and told him that my one and only regret was that I didn't take every single class he had to offer. He smiled, thanked me by name (even though I had taken one class with him my freshmen year) and wished me luck. He was one of the very very few professors I had in my four years who cared about the material he was teaching and each of his students equally. I can only hope more professors follow the example he set as a teacher, scholar, friend, and activist.
8.1.07
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Prof.Gill's death. He was much more than a teacher and mentor to his students. I met him when I took one of the first classes he taught at Tufts in Spring 1981. I was one of a small group of 8-10 students in the Civil Rights Movement Seminar. I remember struggling with a thesis topic and Prof.Gill encouraged me to explore the role of Tufts University and it's students involvement in the movement. He was steadfast in his support and encouragement of my research even when I came up against many challenges in getting documentation. I stretched myself well beyond what I thought I was capable of in getting oral history through interviews and learning to comb the Tufts archives for any information about Tufts' history on the subject of civil rights. 8.1.07 Gerald was a true mentor and role model whose kindness and compassion knew no end. 8.1.07 For Professor Gill, every interaction -- an email, a phone call, a note on a final exam, a chance meeting at the T in Harvard Square/a bookstore/the Tufts pool -- was an opportunity to offer words of affirmation and extreme kindness. 8.1.07 I took one class with Professor Gill my sophomore year. He was an amazing teacher. I never liked history before taking his class. In 8+ years since my graduation, I bumped into Professor Gill a couple of times when I was back on campus. He always remembered me, by first and last name. This always surprised me, since I was not a history major. He was unfailingly kind. I am deeply saddened by his loss. Vivien Valenzuela Mallick (J'99) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 I met Professor Gill at a panel during April Open House while I was still a senior in High School. I don't remember what he talked about specifically, but I do remember that it was enough for me to leave the panel with him still discussing the subject. Amazingly, he never forgot my name after that. I took 3 classes with him and was continually awed and impressed not just with what he said, but how he said it and how he was able to command the attention of the entire class. I've told every incoming freshman I have ever met that they must take a class with Gerald Gill. It saddens me that I will never be able to give that advice again. Gerald Gill was a great man and the Tufts University will not be the same without him. Alex Golub-Sass (A'07) 8.1.07 Professor Gill's breadth of knowledge and passion for history is truly inspiring. He did so much for the Tufts community and me personally, I don't know how they will ever fill the void left by his death. While I learned so much from him academically, the parts I liked most about him were the clear joy he got from teaching students, the uncompromised sincerity with which he interacted with everyone, and his idiosyncracies--everthing from his truly unique lecture style, his refusal to let most people get so much as a glimpse of his horribly cluttered office, his personal anecdotes, and his sense of humor. Rachel Kraft (A'06) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 What a wonderful world this would be if we could be kinder and more tolerant towards each other as Gerry was to everyone. Anonymous 8.1.07 I'm grateful for having been Gerry Gill's friend and colleague for 27 years. Gerry may have lectured on history, but he taught me compassion -- the most important teaching -- with every fiber of his being. His death is unspeakably sad. Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 I thank a number of people in my dissertation--friends and lovers who supported me while writing it, the four members of my committee, all of whom deserved credit. And I thanked one other faculty member, someone not even in my department: Gerald Gill. Pete Chvany (G'98) 8.1.07 Gerry Gill has been a dear friend of the Tisch Library. He took the time to make a personal connection with new staff, he collaborated with reference librarians on workshops to teach library research skills for his students and he worked with the bibliographers to build the collection in the areas in which he taught. He encouraged the library to apply for a 6 week NEH visiting exhibit in 2005 entitled Forever Free, Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation and encouraged us to plan many events around the exhibit which attracted school children, Tufts students and many visitors from the region. Tisch Library staff join the Tufts Community in remembering Gerry's contibutions large and small and mourning his loss. Jo-Ann Michalak Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 Words cannot express how saddened I am to hear the news of Professor Gill's passing. Professor Gill -- because I could never call him Gerald, no matter how many times he asked me to in the years after I graduated --was, quite simply, one of the finest human beings I have ever had the privilege of knowing. He was my professor, advisor, thesis advisor, and later, friend. My favorite memories of Professor Gill will always be the times we walked from the Campus Center to his office -- a walk that should take less than five minutes, would take at least twenty because Professor Gill would stop, and greet by name, at least a dozen students along the way. Never have I met an educator who truly cared about his students as Professor Gill did. Emily Goldberg (A'96) 8.1.07 There was no greater Tufts citizen -- not to mention teacher, mentor, friend, and voice of conscience -- than Gerry Gill. He always put others ahead of self and was a fabulous human being. He will be deeply missed. Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 Gerry Gill made real all the promises Tufts makes about community, about engaged scholarship, about leadership. A true willingness to connect seemed to radiate from him, inviting all of us to share the quest for deeper, genuine understanding. He did everything with such humanity and generosity, gave so much of himself to all of us, that terms like "teacher," mentor,""friend" cannot begin to capture what he meant to this campus. Even the smallest gestures of courtesy -- like saying hi to me when our paths crossed and somehow knowing my name -- seemed to spring from some bottomless reservoir of goodwill. He was above all else a caring, kind person. Gary McKissick 8.1.07 I am deeply saddened by the loss of Professor Gill. He was an excellent professor whose open door policy took the teacher-student relationship out of the classroon and into a less formal setting. I fondly remeber the many office discussions on seminar papers or my senior thesis. Professor Gill's passing leaves a hole in the History department and the University that will be impossible to fill. Jacob Strasser (A'99) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 Warm, loving, and generous, Uncle Gerald will be missed. 8.1.07 I'll continue my talks now with Gerry, on Thursdays and all days. He was our inspirational spirit at Tufts, and he will always be. Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 Unbelievably sad. 8.1.07 I got a great piece of advice on my first day on the Hill. I told my RA I was planning on majoring in history and she instantly said, "You need to ask Professor Gill to be your advisor." It turned out to be some of the best advice I have ever received. Jillian Harrison (A'06) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 Gerry Gill has been my friend for twenty-five years. I'm not ready to put into words what this has meant to me. Yet I wanted to be part of the tribute for Gerry by sharing one abiding observation. Howard Woolf 8.1.07 Gerald was my teacher and my friend. He gave me books and clippings he knew would interest me, and I gave him the same. I also gave him pistachio nuts, knowing he had a weakness for them and hoping their protein and fats would help keep him alive. Yesterday I saw pistachio nut shells next to the keyboard on his desk. They did not keep him alive. Jeanne Marie Penvenne Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 8.1.07 When I rowed crew at Tufts, we used to see Professor Gill running along the banks of the Charles - and it was early! Did the man ever sleep? When I would get to class later in the day, he never forgot to comment on our practice. After I graduated, when I would run into him (usually outside the Harvard Bookstore) he would always remember to ask about my entire family, including my new niece and nephew whom he had never met. 7.31.07 Gerry Gill was one of the most deeply decent people I've ever known. The consummate ally, teacher, and friend, his death leaves us all worse off. Alex Shalom (A'99) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Professor Gill was a wonderful colleague. It is a big shock to hear of his untimely death. My heart goes out to Professor Gill's daughter and the rest of his family. 7.31.07 Gerald Gill danced the chicken dance with unabashed good cheer-- Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 I have never before shared my thoughts about a person in this venue but feel compelled to do so now. I am very saddened to learn about his passing, saddened because I have many fond memories of our passing by each other on the campus and sharing a few thoughts. Leon Gunther 7.31.07 Gerald Gill was an extraordinary gentleman, extremely kind and friendly. Every morning for the last 16 years he came to the Mugar Cafe for coffee and conversation. He would often stay a few minutes longer to test me with US History questions as I was studying for my citizenship. I received my citizenshp because of Gerald. He will be greatly missed. Rest in peace my friend, I will always remember you! Giovanna Scrivo, Mugar Cafe Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 For many years I told myself that when I was less busy, I'd see if Gerald would let me sit in on one of his classes. Now that won't be possible, but I'm so grateful for everything I learned from our discussions--and most of all from his example and his incredible spirit. I can't believe I won't bump into him crossing the Green again. Rosalind Shaw, 7.31.07 I will always remember Gerald Gill as a man who generously shared an appreciation for the history of African American students at Tufts, a story that had never been fully told before he took the time to research and write that important chapter. He understood that universities must cherish where they've been to fully understand where they're going. I will miss his quiet depth and integrity as a scholar and as a person. Laura Ferguson 7.31.07 Gerry and I arrived at Tufts at the same time (1980), and I cherished the friendship I had with him until I left in 1987. I think he lived at the Harvard Square bookstores;it's hard to remember visiting any of them without seeing him with an armload of books. Gerry was instrumental to the Peace & Justice Studies program we were trying to get off the ground at Tufts, and I remember him being an inspiration to both students and faculty alike. I loved his impish smile, as if he were always up to something or another. And he usually was. Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 To add just one thought to those already so eloquently and meaningfully expressed by Gerry's friends, colleagues and students, I'd say we all are so lucky that despite his extensive knowledge in many disciplines, he seemed not to know the word "no." There was never a request made of him that he denied - he was never too busy to participate in another panel or event, never too overloaded to have another conversation with anyone who needed to talk, and never, ever, able to tell students he was too busy to be part of their committees, read their papers or help out with their projects. We have all lost a great colleague and mentor. 7.31.07 One of Professor Gill's lasting legacies will be his dedication and support of students. It's hard to write about him in this context because I can't even imagine Tufts without him. He was a wonderful, caring, supportive man who left a lasting impression, even if it was just a quick conversation between classes. I am saddened that he has passed away before his time, but so very thankful for the times spent in his classes and speaking with him. Thank you, Professor Gill. You mean so much to so many of us. Moira Poe (J'01) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 I was truly saddened to learn that Prof. Gill had passed away, because I know that I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for his guidance as a professor and mentor. His course on African American history led me to realize my love of history, and his recommendation no doubt helped me get accepted into the masters program in the Tufts history department. Prof. Gill gave me my first opportunity as a teacher's assistant, asking me to T.A. the very class I had taken with him only two years before. He guided me through the two years of my masters, and when I applied to PhD programs, he was willing yet again to fill out reams of recommendation forms. Erin Dwyer 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Dona Yarbrough 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Leslie Biltekof (A\97) 7.31.07 Several years after I graduated, Professor Gill contacted me to present the paper I had written for his Civil Rights senior seminar at a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision. He encouraged me to try to publish it and to reconnect to academia. Now I'm in a history Ph.D. program, and hope to be a professor myself one day. He was funny and warm and had the most amazing memory of any person I have ever met. I am grateful to have known him. Amy Rutenberg Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 7.31.07 Of course he worked harder than any of us. He made me look bad, I always joked: his classes were huge, and yet he knew the name of every student. He'd give that sly, grin, looking aside, as if his pleasure was a secret. I think many of his struggles he kept secret as well, particularly in the last few years. I will never get to say goodbye to the guy. That's ok. I would never be, could never be, ready to say goodbye to Gerald. Michael Ullman Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 The bottom line is that Gerald Gill was a man of uncompromising integrity. He instilled that sense of conscience and ethics in others through his insights and example. I will miss him terribly, as will his students and his colleagues in the History Department. I offer my deepest sympathies to his family;I hope that memories of happy times will eventually ease your loss. 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Gerald Gill lives on! I love you, Gill! Mark Booker 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 The year that the Yankees came back and beat the Red Sox in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series (this was the year before the Sox went on to win it all) Gerald Gill and I made a bet. Little did I know then how many times the esteemed history professor had made that same Sox/Yankees bet with a Tufts student. (It was by then a kind of Tufts tradition.) Still it made you feel rather special, to be making a bet with Gerald Gill. And so if the Sox won Gerald would wear a Boston cap around campus for an entire week. If the Yankees won, I would. Needless to say, after the Yankees came back and won that series in heartbreaking fashion, Gerald let me (all of us?) off the hook, though I have no doubt that he would've worn the Sox hat all week. (In fact the next year he did wear that Boston cap all week, in class and out of it.) We had become friends over the years, ever since I had taken a pair of his impressive, daunting, undergraduate African American history courses and then proceeded to remain at Tufts to pursue my Ph.D. in English. A lucky coincidence landed me upstairs in East Hall, so just about every day I had the pleasure of passing by Prof. Gill's office door. (Looking back on it now, I can see how deeply Gerald's research-assignment--to write an oral history of the Civil Rights Movement based upon interviewing three people who lived through it-- directly impacted, even inspired, the thrust of my later doctoral dissertation.) Gerald's door stood at the bottom of the stairs. And ever since I knew him, it was stacked up with student papers, plastered with fliers, and for the last four years at least, covered by a giant acid-worn newspaper advertisement that proclaimed loudly, "The War in Iraq is Wrong, and We Know it," signed by an assortment of pop culture icons. The most memorable thing about Gerald's door though, was how it seemed to be always open, even as late as midnight, and not just Monday to Friday, but on weekends too. Even as he worked overtime, meticulously returning every last student email, grading every midterm and thesis, preparing lecture notes, Gerald kept that door open. At least a crack. Somebody might need to talk to him. And so there in the doorway we'd talk: about how classes were going or how his health had been, about how to understand the social struggles of the 20th century, about recent scholarship. Often, he eased my mind with his recurring reminder that just writing "a page a day makes a dissertation in May." And of course, we'd banter back and forth about sports, in particular, baseball. In particular the Sox vs. the Yankees. Gerald was generous, with his humor, knowledge, time, and energy...even with the loads of scholarly and teaching materials that filled his office shelves almost to the point of collapse. He gladly loaned me a small library of books on race, boxing and American culture, and then let me borrow several videos about Paul Robeson, (I have them still). Oh how Gerald gave a great lecture on Paul Robeson, a figure whose progressive committment, courage in the face of adversity, and creative talents had earned made him the title of Gerald Gill's "hero." (How many of us out there now today know about the great Paul Robeson mainly or only because of Gerald Gill?) Generous Gerald Gill, you are one of my heroes. And judging by these remembrances, I am far from alone in this. 7.31.07 I'm shocked and saddened to learn about the death of Gerald Gill. He was an amazing professor, mentor and friend. He truly listened to students and was able to relate to them on so many levels. He was a great and inspiring man. I will miss him. Shana Bawek (A'98) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Gerry was my undergraduate advisor, and later a friend and colleague. He inspired me to become an historian. For Gerry, the past was as dynamic as the present, and in his classroom history came alive as he bared both his soul and the soul of our nation. He helped his students grow to become better people. He was a gifted teacher, scholar, and friend for whom I will always have a very special place in my heart. Michael Yudell (A'90) 7.31.07 I am shocked. Gerald was a real ally and lent so much support to me personally and to activism at Tufts. His memory should be honored in a way that is fit for the causes that he cared so much about. It is hard to imagine Tufts without him. Gerald was the real deal and there are so few people like him. Louis Esparza (A'03) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 I will always be grateful to Gerald for inviting me into the Tufts community as a summer school adjunct instructor. He introduced me to everyone in East Hall, and we would get a bite to eat before class together now and then when he was teaching. Our subjects typically were the availability of various archives, and baseball. I felt at home right away at Tufts, largely thanks to Gerald. Last summer our classes were scheduled at the same time, and I was not surprised when my class was underenrolled.
7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Dana Weissman (J'96) 7.31.07 Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Gloria Ascher 7.31.07 It is with an extremely heavy heart that I post my sincere condolences to the Gill family and the entire Tufts community. To the Gill family, please know that there are MANY of us who share your pain and feel your loss. Professor Gerald Gill was much more than a beloved and respected teacher...He was also a mentor, an adviser and an INSPIRATION. I take pride in saying that Gerald Gill was one of the key factors in decision to major in History and I could not ask for a better mentor. His love of teaching, his passion for his subject matter and his genuine concern for his students was evident every day. I am forever appreciative of his guidance and his support. He demanded and expected the best from me as a student...and in so doing, pushed me to demand more of myself. I say with pride he helped me to become the Man that I am today. Prof. Gill, you are loved and missed. Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Dr. Gill was one of those individuals who left an imprint on all who met him. When I worked at the university and needed a panelist to address students, he would tirelessly give of himself. At on campus events Dr. Gill was there, always suporting students, and bringing his gentle and intuitive spirit with him. He was a leader, mentor and friend to so many. A true gem has been lost in the Tufts Community. 7.31.07 Gerald Gill was the most dedicated professor, mentor, scholar and friend. From my first class with him my first semester at Tufts, through the ups and downs of campus life, through thesis, career decisions and life in general, he was always there with words of encouragement, a smile and wonderful advice. Michal Dagan (A'99) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Gerald Gill was a true teacher. I must admit, I paid little attention to his pedagogy at the time, but it is now 20 years later and I still remember vividly the seminar I took with him on the Civil Rights Movement. As a teacher now, reflecting on his efforts to connect me to primary sources for my research on children in the civil rights movement for his seminar, discussions, books, all that he gave us, I realize his commitment to all of us, to honoring a history spoken by real people, and to learning. I also remember him as a kind and gentle man. He will certainly be missed. Elizabeth Wittner (A'87) 7.31.07 I have many memories of Professor Gill during my tenure at Tufts and after. He was very encouraging to me as an undergraduate in Political Science and later as I did graduate work in History. I would see him at conferences and he was always supportive and collegial. Indeed, he saw me as a colleague and wanted me to call him Gerald! I tried but he will always be Professor Gill to me. Marya Annette McQuirter (J'86) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Professor Gill was an amazing man. He was such a huge part of my Tufts experience - I can't imagine what it would have been like without him. Art Papas (A'97) 7.31.07 Tufts has lost a great man as well as a skilled teacher and scholar. I took several classes with Dr. Gill and he was my faculty advisor. He was my advisor for my senior thesis on the Catholic Church's involvement in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. My completion of that project and, more importantly, Dr. Gill's approval of my work, stands to this day as one of my proudest academic accomplishments. I spent many nights at the BU Theological School library looking into old newspapers, letters and papers because Dr. Gill inspired me and all his students to go beyond the textbooks and immerse yourself in the subject matter. He was the best teacher I have ever known. In addition to his scholarship and research, he was a great teacher because he was approachable and accessable. Despite all of his projects, he seemed to have an endless amount of time and energy. In his soft-spoken manner, he set people at ease even talking about the most passionate of subjects. Through his work looking back at Tufts' race history, he helped the university to engender a more inclusive environment. Dr. Gill was one of the most influential parts of my experience at Tufts. I am saddened by the loss of such a brilliant and caring man and that future Tufts students will not have the benefit of his wisdom and generosity. If Dr. Gill's daughter is reading these messages, please know how much your father was loved and respected and how many mourn his passing with you. Marty Mahoney (A'90) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.31.07 Prof. Gill was an absolute inspiration at Tufts. I only began to take class with him in my junior year and remember thinking i had wasted two years by not going sooner. 7.31.07 To say that Professor Gill was inspirational amazing thoughtful and kind feels like an understatement. Though I am in shock I could not let another moment go by without at least sending my condolences to his family. I send my prayers to them and to the community. He not only made an impact on me personally as a student, he developed me and motivated me as person. For that I will be eternally greatful. I can only wonder how Tufts will ever be the same and feel deeply the loss of such a great man, academic, and friend. Aliguma Young (J'98) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 I was distraught when I read of Professor Gill's untimely death. Gerry Gill was the embodiment of Tufts. I took every class he taught and visited his office often. He was my advisor, my teacher, my mentor, my hero and an inspiration. He taught me American History in a way that no one else could have --- with an understanding of the people and places that mattered, and a specific focus on the plight of African-Americans throughout the history of our country. I remember that there were many books to buy for all of his classes but, few textbooks. The required reading ranged from a biography on W.E.B. Dubois to "From Front Porch to Backseat: Courtship in Twentieth Century America." However, the things I remember most about Professor Gill have little to do with a book. He was a scholar, kind, compassionate, smart, talented, humble and sincere. His is the only professor's name from Tufts that I remember. Why? Not just because the ma! n was unforgettable in every way, but also due to the fact that there was never a student whose name that he forgot. If it was an hour after class or a decade after you last saw him, Professor Gill knew your name. And that small gesture meant so much to me, and every other student who was lucky enough to know him. It is one of the many things that matter that I learned from him and bring into my daily experience. The little things mattered to Professor Gill and he made them matter to me. Tufts has lost an irreplaceable treasure with the passing of Professor Gerry Gill. May his daughter and his entire family, his incredible circle of colleagues and friends, as well as the entire Tufts community be comforted by the knowledge that Professor Gill's profound impact will be with us for many generations thanks to his ability to connect with so many of us in so many indescribable ways. Melissa S. Norden (J'94) 7.30.07 Professor Gill's class on 20th century American history was one of the very best I have taken. His quiet dignity and formidable intelligence commanded attention and respect, and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to meet his tough but fair students. Bryan Shelly (A'98) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 Gerry was my college roommate at Lafayette in the late 60's. Even then he was a man of strong principles and good heart. He was kind, generous to a fault, and a good friend. I will miss him very much. Joe Cox 7.30.07 When I sat in on one of Professor Gill's classes during April Open House, I was told by a student in the class that I would become a Gill groupie if I attended Tufts. Sure enough, I did. I was so impressed that he took the time to develop relationships with so many of his student, even though I think he had more advisees that he knew what to do with! As a freshman, I was so pleased to see him at my first orchestra concert. Carrie Gardner (J'98) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 "Gerry", as he tried to get me to call him after I graduated, never really sounded right coming out of my mouth. Despite a mentorship and friendship that continued after I graduated, I always continued to call him "Professor Gill", even as we sat together enjoying a Red Sox game. It was always fun to talk sports with him, particularly as fellow Yankees fans in a sea of red shirts. Chris Chung (A'95) 7.30.07 Professor Gill had a way of making us (his students) work harder than ever before, with intentionality and pride. He lifted the caliber of every student in the classroom, pushing us to push ourselves. I wasn't a History major but I ended up taking three of his History classes. Cliff Flamer (A'96) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 Those of us who work in East Hall can't imagine Gerald Gill not being there. His was a constant and a deeply felt presence and his warmth and generosity were unbounded. Like his office, which overflowed with the countless treasures and papers he preserved, so Gerald overflowed too: with patience and concern for others;with dedication to his students and his colleagues;with a goodness and a radiant humanity that touched everyone he met. I can't believe that Gerry won't be there the next time I head toward my office or that we won't have a chance for a late evening chat about why we're on campus so late. But I know that, like countless others, I'm going to miss him in ways I'm not fully aware of and that I'll regret his untimely passing with an intensity only equaled by my gratitude for having knowing him as a colleague for so many years. Lee Edelman 7.30.07 Professor Gill was a wonderful teacher and a kind friend. Whether it was dissecting MLK's March on Washington speech word-for-word, or arguing whether Magic's Lakers were superior to Larry's Celtics, Professor Gill sought the truth with great passion. He cared deeply for his students, always making the time to review their work, or simply to hang out and chat. I will miss him, but I will never forget him. Jason Monroe (A'91) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 Prof. Gill was the reason that I chose to go to Tufts. He spoke on a panel for the history department and I told my parents right then and there that I wanted to attend Tufts so that I could learn from that man. His classes were an inspiration to myself and many others. An even greater tragedy may be that so many future generations will be deprived of his knowledge and teaching. He will be sorely missed. Rose Lawler (A'03) 7.30.07 Gerald's loss is staggering and incalculable. For Tufts he was a truly sui generis figure -- a legend in his own time - the quintessential teacher and mentor. Sherman Teichman Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 I will never forget his amazing capacity for nurturing learning and the educational pursuit of his students. Always willing to take one more student into an already packed seminar! Always handing books to help further learning, inviting students into crowded office to support them in their educational endeavors. He was my adviser and a wonderful teacher who helped me discover my true love and passion for history. I will miss him. Anonymous 7.30.07 So many conversations over the years, in undergraduate and in frequent visits during graduate days. I was proud to introduce Professor Gill to my parents at my graduation, and they thanked him for his instruction and guidance. Naturally, I had looked forward to sharing pictures of my son with him but had somehow dallied. Now, that conversation will never happen now, and I am stricken. Doug Kantor (A'94) 7.30.07 I was a classmate of Gerry Gill at Lafayette College and I am deeply saddened at the news of his death. When we met, he was a quiet almost shy person. He emerged as an intellectual leader on the campus at a time of great transition (late 1960s). He was dedicated to learning and to sharing his knowledge. I was not surprised to see that he became a college professor, respected by his colleagues and students. His death is a great loss to Tufts University and for all his friends from Lafayette College. Brent Glass Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 No tribute can do justice to Gerald's charismatic presence in our lives. His unsurpassed talent for teaching and talking to people will continue to make the world a better place. We at the history department will have trouble hiding our tears as we will cintinue to miss his gentle presence and warm friendship long aftertributes are done. His contribution to Tufts and to our personal lives was immense, his spirit will continue to guide many of us. Our sorrow knows no bounds. Ina B.McCabe, History Department Ina Baghdiantz McCabe 7.30.07 While working as an R.A. on a project collecting R.E.A.L. Alumni narratives, I had the opportunity to exchange email with an alumna whose life, there was no doubt, Prof. Gill had impacted greatly. It was from her words of admiration and respect that I decided to take one of his classes during my final semester at Tufts. If I have one regret it is that I had not met this man before then. Janet Wilkins (A'07) Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 Prof. Gill will be sorely missed! He was an inspiration to all of us! Elisa Vega-Burns (E'87) 7.30.07 This has been a very tragic summer for the Tufts University community. Just as we coping with loss of two recent alumni (Paul Farris, LA '06 and David Rawson, LA'07), we received the terrible news that Professor Gerald Gill has been taken from us. Jeff Taliaferro Share your remembrances of Gerald Gill 7.30.07 Quite possibly the finest, kindest human being I have ever met. Although I enjoyed his classes immensely, it will be the time we spent in his cluttered office, talking about baseball, movies, and the Homefront that I remember best. Brett Ruth 7.30.07 As a freshman at Tufts, I was told that I couldn't graduate without taking a class from Professor Gill. I ended up taking many. He was the reason I became a history major. He was the reason I decided to write a senior thesis. He was one of the reasons I loved Tufts. His genuine love for his work, his scholarship, his students, and our campus was infectious and inspiring. Peter Sanborn (A'99) 7.30.07 This is indeed a sad day for all of us at Tufts. Gerald Gill was not only an amazing professor but also an incredible mentor and influence on many of us. Karen Y. Johns (J'88) 7.30.07 This is a terrible loss for the Tufts community as well as everyone that he touched in his lifetime. He was a wonderful and kind man. As a graduate of Tufts (1993) and a staff member of the Tufts ITS department, I would often see Prof. Gill on campus. He always remembered me and asked about my husband who I met in one of his History courses. I think he got a kick out of the fact that we met in his class. It was that kind of personal touch that made him such a good natured and endearing person--not to mention he had an incredible memory! He will be missed by all. Alyssa Krimsky Clossey (A'93)7.30.07 It is such a shock, such a loss. Gerald was a special person whom I have known since he arrived at Tufts. I always loved talking to him, working on student thesis committees with him, and sharing our stories about our mutual efforts in the civil rights movement in the 60s. He will be deeply missed. Heartfelt condolences to his daughter and other family members. Rachel Bratt |
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Gerald Gill leaves behind a legacy of teaching and research that enriched the lives of students for more than 25 years.