Saturday's Bob Guskind Memorial at the Brooklyn Lyceum was a deeply moving event. In attendance were nearly 100 people, including many Brooklyn bloggers, Gowanus Lounge contributors, readers and friends.
Tomorrow I will write more extensively about the event, which was a celebration of Bob Guskind and his influential and much-missed blog, Gowanus Lounge. But for now, gratitude and congrats to the organizers, a large dedicated group which included Aaron Brashear (Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights), Sam Coker, Nicole Davis (Brooklyn Based), Phil DePaolo (New York Community Council) Jake Dobkin (Gothamist), Susan Fox (Park Slope Parents), Ann Kansfield (Greenpoint Reformed Church), Katia Kelly (Pardon Me for Asking), Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener), Heather Letzkus (NY Shitty), Norman Oder (Atlantic Yards Report), and E Cherilin Stephens (Gowanus Lounge).
Quite a few people who spoke movingly at the event had never met Bob in person. He was cited as a cheerleader and a mentor over and over again. It's amazing how one man managed to connect so many people, have an impact on so many neighborhoods and civic activists, and produce such a huge output of skilled urban reporting.
City Council member Vilmanette Montgomery spoke briefly as did a representative from the office of State Senator Daniel Squadron, who presented Resolution 1131 to honor the life and work of Bob, which passed in both houses last Tuesday.
The event ran a full four hours. There was a video, a line-up of scheduled speakers, as well as a shout-out at the end for those who felt moved to speak. And after that food and beverages were provided courtesy of Rafael Soler of Bob's beloved Food Vendors of Red Hook Park, who supplied the pupusas and Juventino Avila, chief/owner of Get Fresh Table and Market. Chris Kreussling baked a huge number of chocolate chip and pignoli nut and almond macaroons.
It was a wonderful celebration of a man, whose reputation continues to grow even, sadly, as many mourn his death.
The memorial truly was an amazing event, and really was a celebration of Robert Gusskind’s life and work. I know people use that phrase, but this really was exactly what it describes. One correction, though. Velmanette Montgomery is the New York State Senator for District 18. Not that there’s anything much wrong with being on the City Council… ;-)
Unfortunately, I had an emergency that kept me from attending the memorial. I think it was great that the blogging community came together for such a fitting tribute to a man who always brought the community together.