LIBRARY NOTES
In Memoriam - Brendan Gill (1914-1997)
Thursday, January 1, 1998
Brendan Gill was an involved, active trustee of the Library for twenty years from 1973-1993. How this may have come about can best be told in his inimitable voice:
I had inherited from an uncle a share of stocks in the New York Society Library ... When Arnold (Whitridge), as chairman of the board of trustees of the Library, learned of the transfer... he congratulated me on my good fortune, and I replied (boldly, for me) that while I had long served on the board of directors of a variety of not-for-profit institutions throughout the city, I had done so as a civic duty; the board of the Library was the only board I could imagine serving on not as a duty but as a pleasure. Arnold received this broad hint silently and we changed the subject.
About a year later he caught up with me on the street. "My dear Brendan," he said. "I have just come from a meeting of the board of the library, and I am instructed to inform you that you have been elected a member of the board." Magisterial, he raised his hand to forestall any thanks that I might be preparing to offer. "I may as well tell you," he said, "that I have grave doubts as to the wisdom of the board in acting in this fashion. The fact is that you are a much older man than we like to recruit these days." At the time I was in my early sixties; Arnold was eighty-seven.
Brendan was a consummate board member. Minutes indicate many occasions when his pithy interventions forwarded the necessary action yet soothed egos. Widely recognized in New York City as a writer, preservationist, and a critic of architecture, film and drama, he brought great intellectual, literary and cultural resources to bear on Library concerns. Even nearing retirement, he was instrumental in launching and brining to fruition the Library's Capital Campaign of 1993-1995. He announced his retirement in typical fashion: "Now that I am over 80, I'm cutting back on boards, but if you ever need me for anything, just call. The old fire horse will still be first out of the stall, racing to the scene." And so he was.
Brendan Gill brought unique knowledge, talent, and zest to the life of New York City. He will be missed by many people and many organizations, of which the Library was privileged to be one. We extend our sympathy to his family and friends.
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