It's been a months since Gerald Gleeson passed. Gleeson's friends say they will never forget his kindness and sweetness.
Maria Costelloe’s tone changed as she recalled what her friend Gerald Gleeson wanted to do with the money he had started receiving from Social Security. Gleeson, an unhoused member of the Mission district community, asked the friend who signed him up for the benefits to give some of it away.
When Costelloe met Gleeson over 10 years ago, he was sitting at the intersection of 24th and Valencia streets, just a block down from her house. Costello, like Pietri and Bauer remained friends even after the nun, who did not want to be identified, helped to find Gleeson a room in a Tenderloin Single Room Occupancy Hotel.
“He had lovely eyes and he would just look at you and make you feel like he was present to you. He was gentle, giving, kind, and that just overtook all that anger that he had at times about how life had treated him,” said Costelloe. “He never felt sorry for himself and I think he had a way of reminding me that life can be tough but you don’t have to be tough. You can be gentle.”
Pietri said that Gleeson had his ups and downs, but he admired Gleeson’s kindness, cheeriness and energy. It inspired others to help him as well – including a neighbor who allowed Gleeson to use her address to receive mail. Bauer said Gleeson would come to his carpentry shop to hang out, use the bathroom and talk. He tried to support “Jerry” any way he could, he said.
“It’s really lonely here.” he said from his SRO room in the Tenderloin “I miss the Mission and my friends. I love you, Maria,” said Gleeson to Costelloe. “I love you too Gerald.,” responded Costelloe. “Now go back to bed.” Meet the District 1 candidates: How will you get more affordable housing built?
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