Gary Ilson

just got back from my friends memorial service. Gary Ilson died of a heart attack. He was ten years older than me. A professional poker player and a poet. A real poet. He wrote poems about love and hate and all the foibles of human existence. He even wrote a few poems inspired by my paintings.

He was calm and quiet and full of mirth and good humor. And a real genius.

His service was interesting. I had put together the video/slide portion of it. I was sent a large stack of photos to scan. Here I found a whole new Gary I never knew. We had met in 1988 so my image of him begins there. But in the process of scanning and organizing 100 images I saw him in the fullness of his life. I saw him as a boy playing baseball. I saw him as a youth in the early 60's, a long haired rebel in the 70's.

At his service the two worlds of Gary met. The Gary I knew from dinner and parties and the Gary of the casino. Of course we knew Gary worked as a card player but I have always known him more as the guy who would stand with me and look at paintings and discuss the interplay of color and brush stoke. He was pure genius in that way.

One of his casino friends got up to speak. He looked right out of central casting, a guy who was almost good looking but had something to hide. Sort of like one of those Las Vegas magicians all dressed in black who waves his hand in the air while picking your pocket with the other. But his sentiment was real. He had love and respect for the man. And he stood up in front of a crowd of 90 people who he knew didn't know him from Adam and gave his testimony. He was here, a bit late and I'm sure heading out for long night at the tables. But he came and made sure that everyone knew that the Gary who went to the casino, where it is low down and cut throat, that that Gary was a gem, a jewel. Something rare.

anyway, I will miss him. I am full of regret. He promised to teach me golf and I had put it off till a better day when I'd have more time. And while I may have more time he won't be here. He was a sweet man. Like my wife said, "he was one of the few people I never had a cross word with and never had an argument with." But don't mistake that for shallow. You always had deep and thoughtful discussions with Gary. Discussions that went to the bone of decisive issues. Deeper conversations than you'd have with 99% of anyone else.

This while having some of the most intellectual discussions and talking about issues that usually end fist fights. He wasn't interested in having an argument but rather understanding your position or his in relation to yours.

Always a fan of JAckie Gleason, "So long old pal" as we'd say.