01/16/2019
Share the gift of time—“In lieu of flowers, spend a day with a kid who would appreciate it. And learn from it. You, that is.”
“I have lived 73 serendipitous years. Honesty, integrity, and fairness are core principles hardwired to my earliest childhood memories. A slow learner, but have been accused of being a character with character. My philosophy is captured by three Kenyan kissi-stone carvings in my office: depicting respect, unity, and hope. My approach to life is do what you can; it is what it is; repeat . . . In doing what you can, sometimes there's a fight. That's ok (actually, that's imperative) if it's the right fight. Other than my professional grandfathering adventures, my most rewarding role has been creating and implementing Mindbenders with Greensboro fifth graders an interactive journey of exploration, working together, and having fun. I love kids of all flavors: embrace our common humanity; celebrate our intriguing differences. Heralding my sophisticated wit, Griff Mattox, age five at the time, trumpeted, "Poppa G is the funniest man in the world." Not a bad sweet spot. Pay attention here. I have discovered the secret to life. Surround yourself with people depicted in Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem, Success. Immerse yourself in the movie, RBG. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is, perhaps, the world's premier superhero”.
Walt Gavin, AKA Poppa G, of Greensboro, says he died with a smile on his face Friday.
