Gabor - As a Teacher

A Student at Penn - Reminisces about Gabor

Dear Dave

Great to hear from you, even though your mail comes with the sad news of Gabor's passing. He was such an amazing and indescribable character, part poet, part architect, part philosopher, part mystic, even part business executive.

He always surprised you. When you wanted him to play architect, he'd play executive; when you needed a crit, he'd become mysterious and entirely unapproachable. I think he was at his lyrical best after midnight, when his footsteps could be heard in the studio hallway...He only used us to spark some idea in his own mind, and then slide away before he lost his thought...

I remember riding with him in his new bmw; he was so thrilled with the car he stopped in the middle of the expressway to announce something like, "only 7 moving parts" and waited for my reaction, then added, "and 4 of them are the wheels'. He didn't drive the car above 30. For me his most memorable phrase came at the conclusion of some deeply philosophical discussion on space between time and memory, when he'd suddenly slam his fist on the drawing and shout loudly, "SOMETIMES IT’S BEST TO FORGET EVERYTHING, AND JUST GET A GOOD F**K!"

He was such a frustrating thoughtful enigma. 

At first he always appeared aloof and mysterious, and no one could explain his presence in the studio.

But the reality was quite different. I think everyone was a bit scared of him. His immaculate dress sense, his utter lack of frivolity. and the aura of his unknown past and present. 

Most of all his sudden outbursts. But when you got to know him, he was capable of conveying - always tangentially and poetically - ideas of such depth, it left you surprised and in a sudden rethink.

I don't think I've met many people like him in my life. Perhaps none.

Thanks again for sending me the Gabor Obit.

He was truly rare.

Take care

Gautam