Moments: What Ever Happened to Gil Pries?

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This story introduces us to Gil and his amazing ability to overcome the obstacles in his life. He was often the hit of the party for our occasional beer bashes in the temporary housing behind Sacred Heart Retreat. His guitar and somewhat raunchy music enlivened these sessions well beyond what a few bottles of beer could have done.

This article talks of his making Eagle Scout with bronze palms. What is not mentioned here is that his dog, Barney, was given Tenderfoot rank in his troop (even though Charlie was female). Before coming to the Passionists, Gil attended Loyola University (LA).

He accepted a gift from the Braille Institute in Van Nuys of a braille copy of the Jerusalem Bible, 98 volumes, 10,000 pages long that took 15 months to transcribe. The only other bible so transcribed is the King James' version.

I have often thought about the challenges he faced and overcame. He professed his Passionist vows but I lost all track of him. As I searched newspaper clippings, I discovered the answer from 1975.

Whatever path any of us take becomes the story of a unique life on Planet Earth. It's a story that encompasses all of the people we touch. The very best to you, Gil.