From Twitter: "@ShayTotten More sad #VT legislative news: Longtime Secretary of the Senate David Gibson died this morning from cancer. #BTV #fb"
David was an attorney in Brattleboro for many years. He lived with his family in Guilford. He also served as Windham County State's Attorney. He was a great human being.
Authored by: SK-B on Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 10:43 PM GMT+5
I first met David Gibson in the late 1990s when he was
doing legal work to stop the Brattleboro Selectboard from
destroying a historically significant park in order to
accommodate traffic, even though engineering studies had
shown that traffic lights would do the job.
I was impressed that a Brattleboro lawyer would oppose
the local "powers that be." Usually for that you have to get
an out-of-town lawyer.
One again, quite recently, he successfully represented
petitioners who had been told that the town would ignore
their petition, despite very clear language in the Town
Charter mandating the town to respect the petition.
David was a gracious person. Truthfully, I felt a bit nervous
when I first met him because he had a "Patrician" bearing.
It quickly became obvious though that he was a kind
person. It was not "noblesse oblige," he was simply a
decent human being.
I keep writing "was a gracious person," "was a kind
person," but I first wrote "is a gracious person," and "is a
kind person," I guess David's generous spirit seems
very much alive to me.
I cannot picture David Gibson as "dead." When I think of
him I see the smile and the empathetic eyes which greeted
just a short time ago when I ran into David at the Post
Office. When he asked after my well-being, I knew that it
was sincere.
Authored by: Mosski on Wednesday, August 18 2010 @ 09:53 PM GMT+5
How sudden and how sad David's passing.
When I first heard the rumors of the SB's pending rejection of the PAYT petition I thought of asking for David's advice or, be I so bold, his help. I was not sure that he even would remember who I was as it had been many years since I had last spoken with him.
My fears were ungrounded. He did remember me and when I told him of the situation he did not hesitate in offering to help. With only a couple day's notice he rearranged his travel schedule in order to attend the SB's meeting in person. He then took time out of his very busy schedule in Montpelier to craft a letter spelling out eloquently the solid legal ground on which the petition sat. He put us in touch with Lawrin Crispe and both spent a substantial amount of their time representing the petitioners -- pro bono.
He remained interested and involved in Brattleboro's community and did not hesitate to pitch in to correct what he saw as in injustice.
Vermont has lost a very good man in David Gibson. I am indebted to him and will miss him.
Vt. Senate Secretary David Gibson dies