january Z.2ÛÛÛJ? friu;ii;ivi*rtinett;s A L oving L egacy A longtime gay couple aim to bolster future generations through their generosity t was 1948 when Phillip Gibbons and Orville Garrison first met as fellow U ni­ versity of Portland undergraduates. by T .K . M antese Gibbons says he and Garrison thought about writing a letter to the univeisity. Instead, when they received the school’s annual request for alumni fund contributions, they responded that they were upset with the university’s stance and Both were psychology majors at the asked to be taken off the alumni list. C atholic school, as well as recently After reading a recent Just Out article about returned veterans of World War II. Gibbons was gay and lesbian students currently struggling and 22 and Garrison, 25. organizing at the University of Portland, Gib­ Because students were placed in the curricu­ bons sent an e-mail to one of those profiled in lum alphabetically, the duo shared some of the the piece, Kari Kruse, a founding member of same classes. They began exchanging notes and Friends United to Educate Lives, a pro-diversity meeting after class. group at the North Portland school. Gibbons says he assumed his sexual experi­ “I told her, ‘I support what mentation when he was growing up was typical you’re doing entirely— don’t give for boys. He didn’t know if it was up the effort,’ ” he says. evidence of homosexuality. Gibbons says he and Garrison “Orville wasn’t sure either, had considered setting up trusts but I think he was more aware for two local organizations that that he was probably homosexu­ serve the queer community but al,” Gibbons says. “backed down because of the They continued to date, instability of both of them.” sometimes spending evenings One thing they were sure of, after work at the Cupboard Back­ Gibbons says, was that the U ni­ door, a lounge in the former versity of Portland was “not Broadway Theatre building at going to get a penny.” Yamhill Street and Broadway in Instead, the Garrison G ib­ downtown Portland. It was a bons Endowed Fellowship was hangout for gay men, many of established with Portland State whom were M eier & Frank University in March 1996. It employees, as was Garrison. became activated upon the death A bisexual couple they knew of Garrison two and a half years would often drag them out to a later. club featuring female imperson­ The annual fellowship for a ators, which, quite honestly, did Graduate School of Social Work not interest Gibbons much, save student at PSU will select its first for that fact that those excursions recipient in April. “opened up the gay orientation A spokeswoman for the social avenue” to him. work department says the money Gibbons left his dorm on for the scholarship comes from campus and moved in with Gar­ the interest on the trust, which rison in the spring of 1949. will allow scholarships to be For nearly 50 years they lived awarded in perpetuity. together, excluding one year dur­ T he Garrison Gibbons ing which Gibbons lived in Endowed Fellowship is currently Salem while he served as a child funded at $50,OCX). Though G ib­ welfare supervisor for Marion and bons is reluctant to say what his Polk counties. estate will eventually be worth to D evoted social w orkers, O rville Garrison T he couple pursued and the graduate program (he has earned their master’s degrees in bequeathed everything to the an d Phillip Gibbons have ensured that tbeir social work from the University school), it is safe to say it will eas­ of California at Berkeley. ily exceed $1 million. com m itm ent to im proving the lives o f others “Gay life down there on cam­ This year, $1,000 will be pus was very open compared to awarded. In 2001, the scholar­ w ill live on through the Garrison Gibbons Endow ed the University of Portland. We ship increases to $2,500, accord­ worked like dogs, sweat blood to ing to a PSU spokeswoman. Fellow ship, established with Portland State get through grad school. If you Gibbons says the Graduate got a C , you were on probation,” School of Social Work will even­ University in March 1 996 he recalls. tually have the money for a guest Both spent their subsequent professorship to teach courses careers helping others, particular­ that specifically address queer social issues. Garrison died Oct. 21, 1998, after 270 days ly children. The PSU endowment agreement for the in the hospital, having never recovered from Except for a short stint with Multnomah Garrison Gibbons fellowship sets requirements complications of surgery for an abdominal County Juvenile Court, Garrison spent his for the scholarship, which include “outstanding aneurysm. career in the adoption field. He was the director academic qualifications, demonstrated financial Several years before Garrison died, he and of Waverly Children’s Home until poor health need and an interest in gay and lesbian issues.” Gibbons talked about setting up a trust at the prompted him to resign in the early 70s. Preference will be given to students who have University of Portland because “that’s where we From 1968 to 1973, Gibbons also worked at experience working with sexual minority met and fell in love,” says Gibbons. the children’s home, developing a treatment clients. “A very dear mutual friend— known her for Devoted social workers, Garrison and G ib­ program for disabled preschool kids. 45 years— had been after us since the early ’90s: Says Gibbons: “They had no program for bons have ensured that their commitment to ‘W hat are you going to do with all the money these kids. They just fed them, held them, kept improving the lives of others will live on you’re hoarding?’ ” he recalls. through their fellowship. them clean." It was around the same time, Gibbons He developed an innovative program that Meanwhile, Gibbons is adjusting to life explains, that some University of Portland gay emphasized psychosocial rehabilitation. without his longtime companion. He remains students formed a group and applied for official “I could see things coming to fruition (at committed to social work and volunteers at club recognition. He says the university’s admin­ Waverly],” he says. “Educational and develop­ Providence Milwaukie Hospital. istration declined to endorse the club because of mental programs for the developmentally dis­ the Catholic Church’s stand on homosexuality. abled or severely impaired were unheard of.” Especially for the pre-school age, he adds. I Gibbons says his partner became well enough to work again, obtaining the ultimate job of his career— state director of the adoption program with Catholic Social Services in Port­ land. The last dozen years of Gibbons’ career were spent auditing nursing homes throughout the state and investigating elder abuse for Clacka­ mas County. He retired in 1987. A t the age of 73, Gibbons still talks passion­ ately about social work— and Orville. “It’s been a terrible loss. W e’d been together just short of 50 years,” he says. Market Place Free Wine Tasting Tuesdays \ I » Come jo in us f o r o u r f r e e wine tastings. T b e fir s t Tuesday o f \ every month fr o m 5 p m to 7 pm. F re e Fridays 5p m to 7 p m : • Ja n . 7* - New w ines from Piedmont, Italy and Chilean Wines of Santa Rita Vintners. • Ja n . 14* - H elvetia V ineyards of Oregon, Wines of Southern France and Southern Italy • Ja n . 21“ - P an th er C reek of Oregon and Wines from the Midi in France Visit our Web site www.marketplacewines.com for newsletter & tasting schedules. 'f n ffio tlla tu l jc ¿M tU