George Gibbons Jr.
The family of a Maspeth man who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident last year is looking to get the street that he grew up in all his life co-named after him.
George Gibbons Jr., who was 37-years-old, and owned the bar Gibbons’ Home, would have a section of 60th Drive co-named George Gibbons Jr. Way if their proposal passes through the city council.
Back in October 2011, Gibbons was taking a cab home after a long night of working at his bar when Peter Rodriguez, who was driving on the wrong side of the road on the Long Island Expressway, crashed his Chrysler Sebring into the cab, killing Gibbons and seriously injuring the cab driver.
Rodriguez and a passenger in his car fled the scene of the accident. The passenger returned to receive medical treatment, but Rodriguez never came back and was not found until a month later in Connecticut where he was arrested. Rodriguez was also allegedly inebriated during the night his car crashed into the cab containing Gibbons.
Bernadette Gibbons, one of his sisters, said that they hope to co-name the street in his honor as a way to bring attention to the way he was killed and to remind people not to get behind the wheel if they’ve had too much to drink.
“George did the right thing.He was in the back of a taxi. He wasn’t driving drunk; he wasn’t getting behind the wheel of a car he couldn’t
60th Drive, which is between Fresh Pond Road and Mount Olivet Crescent in Maspeth, would be co-named George Gibbons Jr. Way if it is approved. Forum Newsgroup photo by Luis Gronda.
control,” she said.
The idea to co-name that street actually came from something George wanted to do when he was alive. According to Bernadette, when their mother, Mary Gibbons, passed away from a heart attack eight and a half years ago, George had wanted to co-name that same street after their beloved mother. Although, they weren’t able to do that for Mary, the family hopes to take George’s idea and use it to honor him.
She also said that the community came together soon after news of her brother’s death came out and it taught her and her family about how much people cared about George and the support they showed helped them through the shock of dealing with his passing.
Maureen Gibbons, another sister, said that co-naming the street would be a great way to honor her brother’s memory and the street that he called home his whole life.
“He really loved this block,” Maureen said. “No matter where he moved, no matter where he lived, he always called 60th Drive home.”
Joan Imrie, who lives a few houses down from the Gibbons house with her husband Duncan, said that they knew George since he was a little boy and he was nothing but a nice person to them and to his family and friends. They added that George merits the recognition of having his name beneath the 60th Drive street sign.
“Sometimes it’s just the ordinary Joe that deserves the recognition,” Imrie said.
The Gibbons’ proposal for the street co-naming was presented and unanimously approved by Community Board 5 at their meeting last Wednesday. Now it has to be approved by the city council before the street can officially be co-named.
Bernadette said that she hopes to get people that were close to him and the organizations that he was a part of to write letters to the city council petitioning for the street co-naming.
The one year anniversary of George’s death is approaching on October 15. A memorial mass to honor his life is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Oct 13 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal church on 60th Place in Ridgewood.
George’s sister Bernadette said that the mass to open to all who wish to attend.
“It’s not just a family who lost a son and a brother, it’s a community who lost a friend,” she said.
By Luis Gronda
