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In Remembrance Of Will Gary

Will Gary via the New School Office of General Counsel

Neighbors were shocked and saddened to learn earlier this week about the passing of Will Gary, a dad, Gulf War veteran, New School security guard, and all-around kind soul, on Tuesday at the age of 46.

Will, who lived on Church and E 18th, was lifting weights recently when he herniated a cervical disk in his neck. He was taken to Methodist Hospital for treatment where, a source tells The New School Free Press, he suffered from a heart attack as well as an allergic reaction to medication he was given. His official cause of death has not yet been determined.

“He was young, healthy, and one of the most positive smiley friendly people I’ve ever met,” says neighbor Jessica, who first got in touch about Will’s abrupt death. Jessica, a New Schooler who lives in Ditmas Park, is one of many people from different parts of Will’s life  voicing their grief this week.

Says DNAInfo about Will’s connection to New Schoolers and neighbors:

“Every time I would stop to visit with him, Will would somehow manage to give me his full attention and simultaneously greet everyone like we were all walking in to some great party,” said New School alumnus Katherine Delgado, 25…
And when Gary realized Delgado had moved near to him in Flatbush, he introduced her to other New Schoolers from the neighborhood.
“He introduced me to everyone trickling into the lobby who also lived in my new corner of Brooklyn. He knew I was having a hard time and just wanted to make it a little better,” she said.

“To all of us who were graced with Will’s presence,” says New School alumnus Salih Abdus-Salaam in response to the DNAInfo article. “Let us honour this man by realising and embracing our common humanity towards making each other’s lives a bit better than the day before.”

New School professor Bonnie McEwan echoes his sentiment in one of the nearly 60 comments left on the New School’s post about Will’s passing.

“I hope that Will’s family sees all of these tributes from so many people whose lives were made happier by our encounters with him,” she says. “He was a treasure whose memory we’ll cherish and whose example we should all emulate.”

Of all the lives Will touched, however, friends says his son’s was the dearest to his heart.

“He had a gift for making every person feel special because he truly BELIEVED every person was special,” says Sherri Phillips on the New School’s post. “At the top of the list, of course, was his son.”

For this reason, friends have set up Giveforward and Fundly campaigns to support Will’s family at this difficult time, as well as a Facebook page on which folks can share memories of his life.

Finally, New School administration has set up a book in the lobby the of 66 W 12th Street building where Will worked for friends to express their thoughts and condolences. If you are unable to make it to the building and would still like to leave a note, please do so by emailing Will’s friend Emma–one of several people working with those who would like to reach out to Will’s family but cannot all contribute directly to the book at the New School–at emma.saloranta@gmail.com.

Our deepest condolences go out to Will’s family and the ample number of people he impacted in his life. If you have a memory or thought you’d like to contribute about Will, or if you have information about public memorial services, please share below.

Photo via the New School Office of General Counsel