Sunday, January 6, 2008

Drew Gutches Passed Away Yesterday, 1/5/08

Many deaf people knew Drew Gutches from the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Washington, DC, Class of 1985 and the Boundless Wireless Inc. and Deaf Pagers, Inc. He was a familar face in countless deaf events and made his appearances at numerous ASL Expo/ Deaf Nation Expo across the United States.

Drew Gutches was mainly seen last time at the major deaf event like the "Deaf Freedom 2007 cruise". He passed away yesterday Saturday afternoon at estimated 1:55pm. Drew had several life-threatening strokes since the New Year Day 2008.

Drew Gutches was very generous finanical supporter of the "Unity for Gallaudet" (UFG) protest from the beginning. Gutches frequently had pizzas delivered from local pizza parlors to the hungry UFG supporters. Gutches always had been proud of being a culturally deaf person. He also loaned his laptop computer notebook to Ricky Taylor aka Ridor during the "UFG" protest to keep the deaf community abreast of the recent Gallaudet protest activities and news.

Drew Gutches involved in many deaf organizations from the DC Association of the Deaf (DCAD) to the International Deaf Leather (IDL). He currently served as a treasurer, member keeper, historian and webmaster for the International Deaf Leather.

Drew Gutches was well-known as a deaf landlord to many Gallaudet students for nearly 20 years. He generously rented rooms to international to typical American Gallaudet students which just one and half block away from the main Gallaudet campus on the Eighth Street, Northeast.

Drew Gutches always had a heart of gold to his own customers when come to the deaf wireless pagers. He usually felt bad for some deaf customers if any of them could not make monthly payments due to such misunderstandings or not read the fine prints, etc.

Drew Gutches also was a regular commentator on several deaf blogs from time to time. He also was a regular reader of the DeafRead vlog/blogsphere. Althought Drew Gutches was a deaf-blind himself.

Wish Drew Gutches and his loved ones and friends an everlasting peace.

32 comments:

  1. I hope there is a memorial service for Drew. We would want to attend. He is always seen around the Gallaudet especially enjoying his lunches at the Bistro on a frequent basis.

    He was one of the generous sponsors for deaf and hard of hearing in government (dhhig.org) luncheon just last month donating 7 items for prize drawings (largest number of prize drawings for one sponsor alone).

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  2. This is so unexpected and tragic. The last time I saw him was a month ago. I'm so sorry to hear this.

    Yes, Drew always had a big heart.

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  3. This is a sad day!!

    Is there a picture of Drew? Because we may not "know" of him by name, or have forgotten, but wouldl like to see a picture of him??

    Again, so sorry to hear such a loss.

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  4. OUR FAMILY KNEW DREW GUTCHES FAMILY FOR LONG TIME SINCE WE BEEN LIVED IN ANNOPLIS MD FOR NAVAL BASE AND WE BEEN THRU HEARING IMPAIRED SCHOOL IN MARYLAND BACK TO 1968 TO 1970 WE HANG OUT FOR BOY SCOUT WITH GEORGE HUGHES {HIS DAD} AND MY DAD ALEXANDER JEFFERS {MY DAD } WE HAD BEEN LOTS OF FUN WHEN I WAS ABOUT 4 BETWEEN 5 YRS OLD. UNTIL I MOVED OUT THROUGHT NAVAL TRAVEL UNTIL IN YEARS LATER. WE CAME BACK THOUGHT MSSD MY CLASSMATE 85 AND WHEN WE CAME BACK TO MSSD IN 1981 AND WE WERE SURPRISE BACK SMALL WORLD AGAIN ALSO DREW GUTCHES AND I WERE ROOMATES AND I LOOK UP HE WAS VERY SMART FOR MADE ELECTROIC. I REMEMBER HE MADE A WOOD BOX WITH NAILS WITH WIRES AND CAN HOOK UP WIRES UNDER CARPET TO ANOTHER ROOM. HE SHOW ME ABOUT WOOD BOX THAT HE USE NAIL CONNECT EACH DIFFERENT NAILS MAKE LETTER LIKE A B C D E F LOTS OF LETTER TO MAKE COMMUCATION ANOTHER ROOM FEEDBACK AND I SAID WHOA IT WAS GREATEST INVENT WOODBOX WITH LIGHT LETTER COMMCUATION AND ALSO DREW INVENT MADE ELEC FOR UNDER STAGE FOR VIBRATE WHEN IT HOOK UP WITH BANDS IN MSSD STAGE THAT EVERYONE CAN FEEL BOOM AND VIRATE STAGE. WE BEEN HANG OUT HIS HOME FOR TAKE RIDE 4 WHEEL ATV TAKE DIRTY ROAD. ALSO HE SHOW ME LOTS DIFFERENT ELEC EQUIMENT AT HIS HOME THAT HE MADE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. UNTIL WE BEEN GRADUATE IN MSSD 85. OUT OF WORLD DREW GUTCHES FAMILY CAME VISIT OUR FAMILY IN VIRGINA AND WE BEEN HAD GOOD TIMES. AND I WAS SURRPSIE HE DOING OWN BUINESS BOUNDLESS WIRELESS INC WHEN I WENT TO WASHINGTON DC FOR DEAF EXPRO BACK IN 2000. LAST CALL SEE HIM IN MIAMI FLORIDA DEAF EXPRO AND I SEE HIM REALLY HUGE BUSY SELL THINGS ALSO HIS FAMILY CAME VISIT HIS SON DREW AND WE ARE HAPPY SEE AGAIN AND CHAT LOTS OF TIME TALK ABOUT OLD TIMES THAT WE BEEN REMEMBER IN PAST TIME. UNTIL MY MSSD FREIND CALL ME ON VP AND IT MADE MY HEART BROKEN THAT WE BEEN SPEND TO CLOSE FAMILY EACH OTHER. I AM HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAPPEN SO YOUNG I DONT UNDERSTAND MYSELF. REALLY I AM VERY SAD WHO I LOST MY BEST FREIND OF DREW GUTCHES. NOW I LOST MY BEST FRIENDS DREW. HE IS VERY BRIGHT ELECTROIC MAN. BEST FREIND BY ALAN JEFFERS ALWAYS REMEMBER IN MY HEART WHERE WE BEEN HANG LOTS FUN AND SMALL WORLD FAMILY. DREW KNEW ALL MY LIFE BEEN NAVAL MY FAMILY. SAD FOR ME! CRY GIVE BIGGEST HUGS GEORGE AND MARY LOU GUTCHES. AND STAY TOUCH HIS FAMILY.

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  5. Fare well, Drew. I will miss you.
    Semper FI to you always.

    Sherlock

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  6. Shockingly and unpectedingly big loss of our greatest friend! He had been one of my closest friends since 1994 when I first met him somewhere in the West coast before he offered me a place to move in as a tenant in DC Fall of 1995 when I started Gallaudet years. We used to be roommates in Fremont and Las Vegas for that corrupted Deaf company, MyCities.com as many of you knew. We travelled so much to many different places worldwide (USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean Islands and Bahamas). We were going to go to Israel (his friend and family live there) this coming Spring... darn... We last went on a trip together was Deaf Passage Cruise - Caribbean Islands less two months ago. We had so much fun. I always enjoy his intelligences and everything. He was the greatest friend anyone could ask for. He is greatly missed, indeed! I am communicating with his parents on his upcoming Memorial Service which they will let me know soon. Again, he is greatly missed especially by Deaf Community of America and all expos and events.

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  7. I deeply am sadden to hear that Drew had to go but he will be merely in our hearts. I am grateful he was part of our life.
    I hope he would get a beautiful memorial service! He paid his greatly respect toward to deaf community as we should pay his respect for his service. He had been working so hard to contribute and to help us to get our community to become stronger. He had a faith for us! He will always have a faith in us!
    We will miss you!

    Thank you DREW for your tremendous helping!

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  8. My deepest condolences to Drew's family. I remember him well during my Gally days, and may he rest in peace.

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  9. Yes, this is a sad news indeed. I knew Drew Gutches from our youth days at the Maryland School for the Deaf between 1975 and 1980.

    As a young man, he was always innovative with many things. He attempted and made some things from scrapes. When he left MSD for MSSD, I saw him less and less BUT whenever we meet, he was always full of ideas.

    His success in many areas after MSSD speak for itself. He deserves to be recognized for many accomplishments he made until his final days.

    God Bless Him.

    Joey

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  10. In 2002 I used to work with him to sell pagers in Washington, DC. Shock me hes already gone... hes 42 years old ..Can't believed that! I already missed him!

    Cobra
    Founder
    www.virginiadeafbikers.com

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  11. i know drew gutches and i know him from mssd by 1981-82 and he is eletricilty man...of course drew gutches been work harding for deaf people needed of something.

    thank you
    mr roswald ashlock

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  12. I was shocked and sadden to find out a few hours after he had passed away.

    I barely know him. I was getting to know him more as a friend since July 2007, while he was an Treasurer on the International Deaf Leather (IDL) Board.

    Yes, I had heard a lot of great things that he had done for Deaf Communities.

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  13. RLMDeaf,

    I was pleased that you posted your new blog, "Truth about Drew Gutches", this morning, but now I am puzzled that it disappeared. What happened to it? Can you please re-post it?

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  14. I know Drew Gutches from MSSD NSA (Night Staff Aide) at Dorm A (During Fall '90 or Fall '91) and he was my old roommate from Fall '04 to Winter '06 (1 1/2 years) in Washington, DC. He is very good man and know how to run a business as Deaf Pager - Boundless Communication.

    Last time, I saw him in Southern California (DeafNation Expo) in April 2007. I am so sad about him that he is already gone.

    Evan Levenson

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  15. Everyone - I just talked with Drew's dad a few times. He knows me so well back in my Gally years. He said there would be a Memorial Service for Drew possibly & tenetatively on Saturday, Jan 19th in Smithsburg, MD where he grew up after Annapolis, MD. Will keep you, guys posted as per upon confirmations (date, time and location, etc)..Good day! CP

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  16. What happened to the comments on the hidden nature of Drew Gutches? Why were they deleted? I thought you weren't in favor of censorship, RLM. ;-(

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  17. This was sent to me today at Deafweekly:

    Final Plans for Drew Gutches Memorial its will be on Jan. 19th,2008 2pm to 4pm at Holiday Inn & Conference Center at Frederick, Maryland 21703 TEL 301 694 7500 www.hifrederick.com

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  18. "In the night of death,
    hope sees a star,
    and inner love can feel
    the feathers of a wing"
    -Mikey (adapted from Robert Ingersoll's quote to fit Drew)

    Godspeed Drew.

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  19. Drew made himself a very positive example of honest deaf entrepreneurship. I just wished more deaf people followed his example.

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  20. http://www.deafvideo.tv/watch/5265

    Richard

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  21. All of your words are such a gift. I see my brother in all of them.
    He was so smart, and had such a passion for building. Starting with the couch pillows when we were kids, we would build forts and crawl through them. If it snowed, up went an igloo, with rooms and tunnels. If we were at the beach, it was sand castles. Kids would come to watch, and he would hand them a shovel to help. As he grew older, he would be out with my dad, building wooden houses or tree forts. What a surprise when he rigged them up with electricity, making a warning system so he would know if someone was climbing up to see him.
    As an adult, he bought a dump of a house on 8th street, and over the years, transformed it into a beautiful living space. I would take him to Home Depot as he ran around and got boards, dry wall, and whatever he needed, and weeks later would be invited to see the amazing things he had done with them. Nothing stopped him, even when his eyes got so bad, I was shocked he couldn't see me unless I was right in front of him.
    My children loved their Uncle Drew, and my little son Silas especially loved building with him: Legos, Lincoln Logs, trains. When my son was building in the living room, I often accidently called him "Drew", because the two were so alike. Now that hurts. Drew may be gone, but so much of him lives on in our memories.
    I always made my rolls and cranberry sauce when Drew came for Christmas or Thanksgiving, and I can picture him smacking his lips and rubbing his tummy as he looked forward to eating his favorite things. I will still make those things, but I don't think anyone will love them as much as Drew did!

    I want to see all of you at Drew's memorial service. It would mean so much to our family. We wanted to have it close to Gally, but Drew's mother is very ill, and we needed to have it close to her, so it is in Frederick. It is Saturday, January 19, at the Holiday Inn in Frederick from 2:00 to 5:00. I hope many, many of you come, and I hope some of you will be brave enough to share your stories. Your memories will be a gift for all of us. We will have 2 translators.
    I thank all of you,
    Beth
    P.S. I have tons of really good pictures of Drew. I will have them at the memorial service. I will try to make copies of some for those of you that want a memory.

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  22. I've just learned about Drew. I'm sadden by this and he was so young! I don't really know him but I've seen and spoken him on Gallaudet Campus sometimes during our college days. Nice guy. He's in GOD's hands now. My thoughts are with him and his family.

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  23. I was stunned when I learned of Drew's death, and I am glad to have known him during my Gallaudet years. We were once roommates through the summer school. Godspeed, Drew. With all our love.

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  24. TRACY(FORMER MSSD OF 1984) IT SHOCKED FOR ME..I HAVENT SEE HIM SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.. HE IS SUCH GOOD GUY.. I REALLY SORRY TO HEAR.. HOPE GOD WITH HIM NOW.. I SURE HE IS SUCH GOOD HEART TO DEAF COMMUNITY.. AGAIN, I AM REALLY SORRY TO HEAR.. I MISS HIM!

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  25. I do not know or never met Drew Gutches. Sorry to hear that he passed away. One of the person left a comment asking about what he looks like or funeral information would be, here is the website for more information on the funeral and the picture of his face:

    http://www.deaftimes.com/index.php?id=19050

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  26. Why I remove the blog posting, "Truth About Drew Gutches"?

    I have to close the blog posting which I could be sued for libel/slander no matter I tried to clear up his reptuation.

    I was advised by someone, who is well-versed in legal expertise on libel/slander grounds.

    Some people managed to read the "closed" posting anyway.

    RLM

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  27. Wally,

    I am really in very sticky situation if I don't delete unflattered comments regarding Drew Gutches. I could be sued for libel/slanderous intents.

    I really have no idea whether so-called accusations against Drew Gutches are true or not.

    I have no conclusive evidence or have any knowledge what Drew Gutches have done or not done.

    Out of respect for all deceased individuals. I have to comply with numerous requests to delete the unproven accusations. Or really malicious comments against Drew Gutches out of personal grudges.

    If you or others have knowledge of so-called accusations with real evidence. Why not write your own blog posting?

    I don't want to get dragged in the courtroom to defend myself against anything without any hard evidence.

    I personally never heard such things about Drew Gutches til last week.

    I was totally shocked like a deer in front of auto headlight. I was deeply upset whether I done the right thing or not.

    I support any victims express their outrages or want people to know the truth, but I really do not have any proofs of whether Drew Gutches done or not done.

    My questions - I do not find any info on Drew Gutches on the registered list of ......

    How come Drew Gutches was allowed to be on Gally campus if there are such unspeakable incidents against any particular individuals?

    Without any hard evidence or name of victims, I have to be pragmatic and logical what I am doing to protect myself from being sued.

    Comprendo? Of course, I am all for victims of unspeakable crimes. I have no choices at all.

    Yes, that is not my proudest moment to engage in act of censorship.

    Someone reminded me about the similarities of "letter to the editor". The publication have the right to see what fits not fit or protect itself from getting sued for libel or slander. That would be not seen as an act of censorship. Okay?

    If you insist that was really happened. You could email me at rlmdeaf@hotmail.com

    I could check out stories whether they are true or not. Deal?

    RLM

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  28. One thing about growing older is the separation of friends from being very close to drifting apart on the the sea of life, each choosing their course and ports of call. During these travels, we tend to forget who we were, where we came from, and whom we shared our childhood with.

    I grew up with Drew Gutches in the early '70's until our paths separated in the mid '80's, in his hometown of Smithsburg, MD. Although, I wore a hearing aid, and went to public schools here in the area, Drew was one of the closest friends I had, due to our somewhat similar hearing handicap and the times I shared with him growing up were the best life had to offer.

    I learned to sign from Drew after we grew tired of "writing in the sand" and continue to sign with many other deaf community members here in the Washington county area. One cannot imagine the troubles we got into, nor the numerous projects we did as kids, some of which still stand today.

    He and I were like brothers in a sorts and we both spent many a day and night at each other's house, playing with Lego and electric trains or board games even. All night gaming sessions were a common things as we grew older. Many of my local hearing friends came to meet Drew and they too learned a few signs and were able to talk with him on their own. Drew was never one to shy away from meeting someone and "talking" to them in his own way that he knew they would understand.

    Drew was lucky to have parents that encouraged his focus into areas where he could succeed as his business and social endeavors have shown. Drew's parents were great influences to me as well, always giving encouragement and advice to me that helped me also. I can only wonder what life would have been like without his or their presence.
    Many people are blessed to have friends like Drew, yet we sometimes forget about those friends until one day, it's too late.

    I will truly miss my friend Drew.

    Randy Plume
    Smithsburg, MD

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  29. I personally knew him at Aspen Camp School for the Deaf in Colorado where we used to work together in 1992. I enjoyed his company and he was a fun person to talk with. Also, I met his parents. They're sweet people. I've seen Drew working with the kids....everyone loved him. He was a good guy.

    Drew, rest in peace.

    -Eric

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