Memories of Gideon

Please email memories/tributes to: info@rainbowhistory.org

from Papaya Mann, Ghana:

"Gideon has been hanging in there for soooo long, GOD rest his soul in eternal peace."

from Cornelius Baker, Washington DC:

"Gideon was a sweet, quiet presence who was totally committed to our community.  Those of us who worked with him at NAPWA were blessed to learn from his example of living and surviving with dignity and courage."

from Tina Vozick, New York:

"I met Gideon Ferebee in high school almost forty years ago - in 1966 - the Bronx  High School of Science, although I was never  particularly invested  in studying science or math and I don't recall that he was either.
But, as they say,  some of our best friends were.    Gideon had many
talents
as a teenager, when I knew him best,   He was a writer, a singer, a poet,
an actor, a Star Trek enthusiast who signed his many  complex multimedia letters from Valparaiso as "Spock"; he was a master at Whist and Stratego, even a bit of a cook.

I used to think of Gideon as a force of nature - when he walked into a room the chemical balance changed.  It wasn't easy to have him as a friend  or to be his friend - he was complicated and sometimes frustrating -
at times it  could be nearly impossible to  penetrate his enigmatic  nature - but he was one-of-a-kind and certainly memorable.  Charismatic, in fact. I find it so odd to think of him forever in past tense - we exchanged an occasional email in recent years,  but I had not seen Gideon in many, many years.  Even so,  it seemed to me that sometime I would see him again at a Science reunion or in DC or somewhere, have
an argument or sing some harmony again.   But that won't happen.  It  is very unreal to me that the unique, creative, energetic  person I  knew in high school is gone -  it just makes no sense.

But the memories remain, and I'm sure that's true for the many people whose lives Gideon touched over the years.  Gone too soon, but impossible to forget."
 

from Hedy (Biezonski) Ganz, New York:

Gideon went to the same junior high (JHS 82 Bronx) and high school (The Bronx HS of Science) as I did.  His charisma and the bounce in his step remains frozen in my memory.  Most vividly I recall Gideon, and another classmate (Wylie Cohen), performing We're a Couple of Swells in junior high and bringing the house (auditorium) down!  His amazing singing and dancing talent were evident then and I can still visualize their amazing skit.

I am deeply saddened by his passing.  He was a gentle man with amazing dignity.  May he rest in peace.
 

from Arnie Holland, Lightyear Entertainment, New York:

I knew Gideon Ferebee in high school in the 60's.  I was the guitarist in his group, Monday's Children.

We were all great friends and spent many hours together rehearsing and performing.  The group was very popular, and I must say, we were terrific.  But the main reason we were so great was Gideon.  It was his group all the way.  He was the inspiration.  He was the ball of energy that drew us together.  His powerful lead singing was the center around which we all revolved.   Without him in the center, the 4-part harmonies that allowed us to cover Mama's and Papa's songs and Fifth Dimension songs would have been impossible.   And what harmonies!  It would make chills run up my back to accompany them on guitar and hear the golden sounds we were making.   I will never forget you, Gideon.  Working with Monday's Children was an inspiration for me, and I wonder if I would ever have gone into the music business if it hadn't been for you.

Rest easy, Gideon.

Arnie Holland

CEO, Lightyear Entertainment

from Jay Brodbar, Executive Director, New Israel Fund of Canada:

I am very saddened to learn of Gideon's death on the Bronx High School of Science alumni page.  Like others, I knew Gideon in Junior High (where we performed together in the very talented choral/musical theatre class) and at Bronx Science.  Though not close friends, he is the kind of person one never forgets.  One thing I remember is Gideon had the habit of dotting his 'i's with a little heart.  That probably says it all.

May his soul rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.

from Reuben Jackson, Washington, DC:

I had the pleasure and privilege of seeing/hearing Gideon's poetry (along with so many other now departed lights such as Essex Hemphill and Larry Duckette, among others) here in Washington, DC-where we both lived.  I always loved Gideon's artistic range, and his willingness to keep his work and life moving forward.  We were so blessed to have him here.  He taught me things I'm just beginning to understand.  Like the importance of being curious, and being yourself in this brief life.

Love always.
 

BACK to the Gideon Ferebee Jr. bio page

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

and giving him the last word: