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The Gilbart Family sadly an nounced the passing of Thomas "Ted" Gilbart on Saturday, April 18, 2009. He was 73. Ted was born on August 4, 1935 in Baltimore, MD to T. Edgar and Marguerite Neville Gilbart, one of seven children. After high school, Ted spent two years in active duty stateside (1954-56) in the U.S. Marine Corps. He spent an additional two years in the Marine Reserves. He was very proud of his service. He com pleted a B.S. in English (doublemajoring in Philosophy) from Mount Saint Mary in Emmits burg, MD, graduating Magna Cum Laude and salutatorian. He later attended St. John's Universi ty in Queens, NY and received his doctorate in Psychology in 1970. While working on his de gree at St. John's, he met Lucy Lin Hueh Wu and they married in December, 1963. They recently celebrated their 45th wedding an niversary. While he and Lucy raised six children in Rockland County, Ted was employed as a counselor and professor at Man hattan College in Riverdale, NY and was the Director of Counsel ing and Health Services at the college from 1973-95. He taught as an adjunct professor at several other colleges in the area. Ted also served as volunteer Staff Psychologist for Birthright of Rockland County and volunteered his considerable counseling ex pertise for St. Paul's CCD pro gram and for St. Gregory Barba rigo Elementary School in Gar nerville, NY. Kind, gentle, pa tient, easy to talk with and infi nitely accepting, he was a trea sured counselor to most everyone he knew in his private life as well. Ted was an enthusiastic life-long learner. He was skilled musically and picked up a variety of instru ments easily. He played with great joy and expression. His veg etable garden was always a mas terpiece of science and art. His skills as a researcher, statistician and philosopher wove themselves into many endeavors. He was also an accomplished writer of prose and poetry. Strong in his faith as well, he was active in his parish (most recently St. Paul's Catholic Church in Congers), serving over the years as parish usher, Eucha ristic minister, and CCD teacher. He was a long-time, first degree member of the Knights of Colum bus of Congers, NY. Ted was also active in other community and school activities and coached his children's basketball, baseball and softball teams. Ted coached Little League baseball from 1976 to 1986, served on the board of directors from 1978-81 as Vice President, and from 1984-86 as Director of Major League, and more recently came out of "retir ement" to coach his grandson, Evan's team (2001). Ted lived life with intensity and purpose, and focused his kind at tentions on living things of all kinds (plant and animal) that were small, meek and troubled. His greatest joy, above all else, was in spending time with children. Children of at least three genera tions have enjoyed his games and antics. Like a "pied piper", wherever Ted went, the children would inevitably seek him out. He always said this was because he still had a child within him. He is survived by his wife, Lucy, their six children, Peggy Gilbart (Bob Jacobs), Hedy Gilbart Reichard (Stephen), Tom Gilbart (Jennifer), Christopher Gilbart (Geni), David Gilbart, Suzi Cannici (Jason) and eleven grandchildren, Evan, Timothy, Mikayla, John, Joshua, Noah, Tommy, Ben, Danny, Mia and Ava. He is also survived by four sisters: Sr. Myra Gilbart, Sr. Mary Mercy Gilbart, Sr. Mary Gilbart, and Cassie Gilbart (Bernard), and a brother, James Gilbart (Vicki). He was prede ceased by a brother, Fred Gilbart. Ted also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and other friends who loved him dearly. We let him go reluctantly, giving him back to God, while celebrating his life and counting ourselves lucky to have known him. Calling Hours are 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM on Tuesday, April 21 at Hig gins Funeral Home in New City, NY. Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, April 22 at St. Paul's Church in Con gers, NY. Burial to follow at Gethsemane Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send do nations to Birthright of Rockland (257 South Middletown Road, Nanuet, NY 10954) or to St. Paul's Church (82 Lake Road, Congers, NY 10920). MICHAEL J. HIGGINS FUNERAL HOME 321 South Main Street New City, NY 10596 (845) 694-6110
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