Steven W. Gilbert

  Steven W. Gilbert, spouse, father, grandfather, brother, and President of the TLT Group Inc, died suddenly at his desk in Takoma Park, Maryland on October 8, 2020.  Steve is survived by his wife of 49 years; Sally Stewart Gilbert, their three children; Nathaniel Herbert Gilbert, Joshua Tynan Gilbert and Kathrin Gibbons Gilbert and three grandchildren, William Watson Gilbert, Isaac Elliot Gilbert and Miriam Rose Gilbert. 

He was profoundly an educator and certainly an “early adopter” of technology for pedagogically sound educational purposes.  In the mid 1960s as a teacher at Princeton Day School he facilitated student use of computing.  Throughout his career he facilitated the exploration of technology for teaching and learning in many different ways: moderating AAHESGIT, an early listserv, for many years, inventing and extending the structure and idea of TLT Roundtables, diverse groups of people from an institution to discuss possibilities and explore the uses of technology for educational purposes.  Many of these people had never worked constructively with each other and treasured this way of making sense of the changing landscape and supporting each other across department, role and philosophical divides.

Steve Gilbert visited more than 500 campuses and untold number of conferences during his time at Educom (now Educause) at AAHE (American Association for Higher Education, sadly now gone) and as President of the TLT Group (established in January, 1998).   The titles of some of the initiatives he designed make clear what he valued: Compassionate Pioneers, Levers for Change, Visions Worth Working Toward, Dangerous Discussions, Low Threshold Applications, Frugal Innovations, Clothing the Emperor.  He also offered his considerable expertise to, and aided in many other initiatives:  EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information), Student Technology Assistants and Flashlight Online.

Throughout his career he was looking for ways that each of us could contribute, all of us could learn and teach. He was deeply interested and committed to collaboration and education in all forms, and was excited at the possibilities the internet offered for both. As the internet became more robust and accessible, he turned toward exploring how the principles and practices of good teaching could be applied in an environment which he readily acknowledged was never the same as the face to face classroom.  FridayLive! became a “collaborative laboratory” for that work.  Many volunteers contributed to the weekly sessions, sharing expertise, raising knotty problems, supporting each other in grounding teaching and learning thoughtfulfully.

Steve’s AB from Princeton University,  EdM from Harvard University, and MBA from Wharton were significant for him, but he was a learner with or without an institutional framework.  One year he read William James.  Another he read Gandhi.  Another he read Mandela.  Another Ursula Franklin.  There was never a day when he didn’t read.  He was also a devoted reader of science fiction and mysteries.

During the Vietnam war, he became a Conscientious Objector.  In the process, he grew to admire the Quakers who helped him discern his non-religious reasons for seeking CO status.  His involvement with Society of Friends continued throughout his life.  He loved being an Assistant Cook at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camps, where he insisted on being called an Assistant Cook.  He served on the BYM Camping Committee with joy.  

Steve’s greatest joy was his family.  He always knew he wanted to be a father.  Parenting, for Steve, was not about forming his children but rather about discovering who they are. Steve worked to invest himself in Nate, Josh and Kathrin’s interests and passions. He relished connecting with his children’s partners and found them so interesting. As a lifelong learner, he relished discussing new ideas and collaborating with his children. One of his most important goals in life was to make his children and grandchildren laugh without touching them (although he did love tickling) especially if he could make them laugh at inappropriate times! He did this often, using his wry and strange sense of humor and silliness to elicit laughter.  What a fine father he was!

Steve’s deep relationship with his own grandparents committed him to being a present and excellent grandfather.  William (8), Isaac (3) and Miriam (6 months) were deeply important to him and largely shaped the last few years of his life. He met all three of them on the days they were born! From learning how to play Minecraft to engage remotely with Will to churning butter with Isaac, to being a bed for Miriam, there was no activity Geepsy (GrandPa Steve) wouldn’t attempt if it meant connecting with his grandchildren. 

Throughout their 49 year marriage, Steve deeply admired Sally. He loved and encouraged her to sing. He respected Sally’s ability to connect to others. Their partnership was an example to many of a successful relationship based on love, shared values, and a deep commitment to their children and grandchildren.