I wrote about it on cvillenews.com, but it merits repeating here: Phil Gair — known as “Buddha Phil” to his many admirers here in Charlottesville — has died. His obituary:
Philip Julian Gair, 54, died suddenly Friday, March 4, 2005, of a heart attack.
He was the son of Peggy Lou Gair of Silver Spring, Md., and the late Jacob E. “Jack” Gair.
Phil is survived by his mother; his sister, Cynthia Gair, of San Francisco, Calif.; his brother, Daniel Gair, of Eliot, Maine; a niece, Aja Lee Gair of South Berwick, Maine; many other loving relatives; and a host of friends.
Phil was a philosopher, a wit, a music lover and a longtime pres-ence on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall and in the Altamont Circle neighborhood.
Family members wish to thank these communities for their excep-tional kindness and generosity of spirit. These friends enabled Phil to find peace and happiness over the past many years, and he in turn brought laughter and thought-provoking conversation to them.
A memorial service and a tree-planting ceremony in Phil’s honor will soon be held in Charlottesville at a place and date to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1767, Charlottesville, VA 22902 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Phil was a wonderful man. I won’t try to write more about him here just now, but perhaps after the memorial service.
Some days, I’d walk by and he’d be somber. He’d be wrestling with an existential dilemma, and looking for reassurance: “Hey, Pat… Sometimes I just don’t think the world is okay… Is it okay? Do you really think it’s good?” And I’d do my best to lighten his spirits. It didn’t always work completely… Sometimes he’d just decide that it needed more thought, say he wasn’t really sure, go on looking concerned. But other times, it seemed to get through. Then, his eyes would go BIG behind his coke-bottle glasses, and he’d get a little grin. “You think so? You think it’s alright?” Well, yeah Phil. I think it’s alright. I’m here. I like it. “Oh. Good. ‘Cause I think you’d tell me the truth about what you think. You wouldn’t lie to me.”
I knew Phil for 21 years. A guy named Bill Duke opened the Roasted Bean Cafe on Fourth Street and later the Market Street Cafe. That is where I met Phil. He used to come into the cafe and bum coffee. I heard back then that he went to University in the Southwest and took one too many “trips.” My ex is a bass player and Phil was very interested in the music but I never ever knew that Phil was a musician and I thank you for that. He held out on me! There is always more to know about Phil. Phil was up front most of the time but he also had a mysterious side. He was a great b.s.’r because he sometimes would just try to play me and I would say, “C’mon Phil, you know I know you better.” Phil is the ultimate example of someone I took for granted. I’ll miss you Phil!