“Whenever something strikes me, or I feel something or see something that stops me in my tracks, I write—it could be a poem, an essay or an article for the Granby Drummer,” says Cliff Gibson. The arrival of his two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, River Rose, was one of those special “somethings.” On the day of her birth, after he had held her in his arms for the first time, he wrote a poem and presented it to his daughter and son-in law.
Clifford James Gibson of Granby is known to Granby readers as CJ Gibson. In 2024, the Drummer published Gibson’s article titled Thankful for the word ‘BUT’. The Connecticut Press Club recognized Gibson with an award for this article in which he praises Granby resident Bob D’Angelo’s significant fundraising prowess for cancer research over the past ten years.
For Gibson, a busy man with many interests, “Family comes first. My wife, Janice, and I are fortunate to have River Rose with us a couple of days a week.” The Gibsons have been married for 45 years and have two children and a granddaughter.
An accomplished thespian, Gibson has performed in six community theaters in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He estimates he has portrayed 25 characters over the years. His most recent performance was in February of this year in Aaron Sorkin’s courtroom drama, A Few Good Men, with the Suffield Players.
German shepard, Elsa, and Gibson hike together frequently. Their favorite destination is the Granby Land Trust’s Mary Edwards’ trail. Gibson retired in 2020 but still enjoys a part-time driving job with the McLean Retirement Community. Residents like their affable driver who shepherds them to appointments and shopping venues a couple of times a week. “I like to meet people and I like to drive; this is a perfect job for me,” says Gibson.
There will always be time for writing when something special captures CJ Gibson’s attention.