...ferried to a place of calm and beauty...

January 22, 2010 at 11:53 PM

Well, the last time I wrote it was about buying a bow, and that is in the works...

In February 1999 while a fellow at the New World Symphony I received a call from my friend and colleague Philip Payton, who was unable to play an outside performance. SO, I said yes, and was given the number of a man named Gilbert Stafford. Being from South Carolina and taught to address people very formally, I of course addressed him as "Mr. Stafford" upon making the first call.

In the second message left for me: "...and Sam, it's Gilbert. So formal..."

The performance was that of the Black Door Dance Company, and Gilbert was the emcee: in a beautiful chair, dressed so elegantly, giving the audience "the scoop" on what was about to take place. At that moment, I decided that I wanted to be his friend - and knowing a bit of what South Beach was about, not one of his "friends" for the sole purpose of being let into the clubs. At that time I wasn't even thinking of going out....

...upon hearing of Gilbert's recent passing, I have like many been flooded with memories. Not only was the most amazing host at the many parties and events taking place on the Beach, he was also a truly wonderful person: an intellectual who loved opera, Miklos Rozsa, Sergei Prokofieff and the violinist Nathan Milstein as well as SO many other things, I cannot begin to recall everything. In addition to the nights out there were many hours at his apartment listening to great music and having very lively conversations, with rooms being filled with such interesting and fantastic people from all across the globe.

Still shy then (as I am now sometimes), I was amazed that this man let me into his world - no judgment, no preconceived ideas or expectations of "who I should be", just the inclusiveness that is hallmark of the many humble souls who have graced humanity with their presence.

In 2006, after not having seen Gilbert for seven years (life does what it does, and I moved first back to Houston and later to New Orleans), I decided that I wanted to spend some time with him - he was living in Manhattan at the time and I, having played my debut at the Arts and Ideas Festival in New Haven (in the neighborhood), also needed a break from what had been a tumultuous time. While I did arrive at his apartment early (he was at a meeting), there was no way to describe the joy that I felt upon his walking into the room, towering over me - perhaps Gilbert was in many ways the "soul protector" that we all need at some point, just there, no grandstanding, but always ready to do the right thing....those two weeks were so wonderful and I am truly grateful to have had those two weeks to reconnect with my dear friend.

Again, lives and locations change - I to Charleston, then to Baltimore and later the Hudson Valley, Gilbert back to Miami and later to Los Angeles - but we kept in touch, through telephone calls and (recently) Facebook. I did not get to speak to him in depth before his passing, but the last words that I heard were from a kind, gentle, and loving soul.

While I may not have interacted with you as often as many did, dearest Gilbert, thank you for championing me and being a loyal, steadfast, sometimes hard-nosed, elegant, curious, beautiful and stable presence in my life - and thanks for making this kid from South Carolina feel like he truly mattered in the world.

Of course, life does have a way of bringing people and situations together - my dear friend Philip Payton (a violinist currently living in New York) had discussed playing the Rozsa Sonata for Two Violins for Gilbert while living in Miami...twelve years later, we had the opportunity to do so in tribute to our dear friend.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on January 23, 2010 at 6:58 PM

I am sorry for your loss. What a wonderful story.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on January 27, 2010 at 3:51 AM

Oh, Sam, this is lovely. I really feel it all. Maybe because I'm coming from a place of loss myself. Or maybe simply because you put it so well. : )

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...ferried to a place of calm and beauty...

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