Edward Gibson Obituary

Gibson Sr. M.D., Edward L. June 6, 1932 - January 6, 2015 On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, Edward Lewis Gibson, Sr., M.D. passed away at the age of 82. Born June 6, 1932, Dr. Gibson grew up in Chicago, IL. He was the son of Mildred M. and Harry H. C. Gibson, an insurance executive, attorney and member of the Chicago Bar Association. He was also the grandson of Truman K. "TK" Gibson, Sr. a close friend of W.E.B. DuBois. Dr. Gibson studied chemistry at the University of Illinois, earning a Bachelor's of Science in 1953. He went on to Howard Medical School, graduating in 1957. Following medical school, Dr. Gibson was selected to join Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons as Associate Professor of Anesthesiology. At Columbia and in collaboration with several colleagues, Dr. Gibson conducted research on blood-gas chemistry and anesthetics helping to improve the efficacy of anesthetic compounds. From Columbia, Dr. Gibson was selected to join the Department of Anesthesiology at The Medical Center of Princeton moving there with his family in 1967. Within a year he was elevated to Department Chairman. He was the first African American physician to join the Medical Center's staff. Starting with a team of nurse anesthetists and one anesthesiologist, Dr. Gibson built the Department into a full-fledged state-of-the-art anesthesiology facility, including selection and recruitment of numerous physicians. Additionally, Dr. Gibson was instrumental in establishing and developing The Medical Center's Surgery Center. Among the signature accomplishments of Dr. Gibson's career, perhaps the most notable is his professional legacy. Dr. Gibson created a first-rate department of anesthesiology at a regional medical center in a community that was initially not always that welcoming to its hospital's first African American physician. Through competence, hard-work, commitment and integrity, he demonstrated not only that it could be done, but that it could be done well, with distinction. In doing so, Dr. Gibson bore out the dream and claim of his grandfather, T.K., Dr. Dubois and his parents that talent of any color, race, creed or hue could assume its rightful place of leadership in American life, and so set a standard for others to follow. He was a member of Sigma Pi Phi, Mu Boulé Chapter. Dr. Gibson is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Nannette, his three children, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to The Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 529, Princeton, NJ 08542-0529 and The Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., 40 Rector Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10006. A memorial service in honor of Dr. Gibson will be held on March 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. EDT at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, New Jersey, ph. (609) 924-2277. Friends, family, colleagues and other well-wishers can send condolences, request further information or RSVP to [email protected].