One of Chestertown’s most notable native sons, Gilbert Watson, Jr., known to friends as “Gibby,” lost his battle against pulmonary fibrosis on Saturday at Shore Medical Center in Chestertown at the age of 70. Watson was a longtime metro editor of the Baltimore Sun.
Read the full obituary here.
Jeffery Grotsky says
Gil’s passing is a huge loss to the community of Chestertown. Gil was a long standing member of the Chestertown Planning Commission and served as the secretary of the Commission. He had the history and knowledge of the town and used that information to provide leadership to the members of the Commission. Gil was so well prepared and was not shy about asking the tough questions that needed to be asked. He was a good man all around and his chair will be hard to fill. Jeff Grotsky
Nancy Schwerzler says
I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of my dear friend and colleague, Gil Watson, with whom I worked for many years on the Metro Desk of the Baltimore Sun. I worked as Counties Editor and State Editor of The Sun under Gil’s Metro Editor leadership. His enthusiasm, dedication and deep intellect were inspirational to everyone who worked with him. He always pushed his staff to work harder, probe deeper and ask tougher questions– but he was always concerned with making sure we “got it right.”
I can think of one story in particular– the rather tawdry legal case involving former Rep. Bob Bauman of the 1st District– that we were investigating. Gil went to great pains to make sure every detail was triple-checked before publication. His mantra was ‘we want to be first, but it’s more important to be right.’ Those values are, unfortunately, falling by the cyber wayside too often now as the race to post rumor and innuendo takes precedence over ‘getting it right.’
Please post details of a future memorial service in Chestertown so that we may pay our respects to this great journalist and Eastern Shoreman.
Diane Duke says
I only met Gibby a couple of times. Most recently he was in my shop in Chestertown. I do upholstery and sewing of household items and he wandered in looking for repair of some gloves that, he admitted, were easily replaced but he just hated to throw them away. I normally don’t do clothing repairs or alterations, but part of my mission is keeping things out of the landfill. Another part of my mission is customer service and his total frustration at being able to accomplish a seemingly simply task locally, one that our mothers (who know each other) would have routinely done, helped remind me of this. During the course of our conversation I introduced myself. Our fathers were members of the Chestertown Rotary Club during the ’60’s and I went to school (and remain friends) with his two youngest sisters Durrie and Molly. This is the beauty, and essence, of where we live. It took about two minutes to do the repair. He was ecstatic. I couldn’t have pleased him more if I’d replaced them myself with a new pair. When he asked how much he owed me, I told him nothing. (It took two minutes. I don’t know how to charge for two minutes. Two hours, yes. Two minutes….?) I told him to just talk nice about me. He enthusiastically promised he would and said he’d be back if he had more business.
I only met Gibby Watson a couple of times. But I know who he was; and I am profoundly sorry that yet another gentleman who understands family, the infinite, myriad and wonderful connections of a small town and a few lost arts–like sewing and customer service– will not be coming back.
jenifer emley says
That is lovely, Diane.
Chestertown has lost such an enormously wonderful man.
Bob Foss says
Pam and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend, Gil. Chestertown has lost a good man. He will be missed.
Bob & Pam Foss