Dave Gibbons

Santa Fe, New Mexico — Bernard David ”Dave" Gibbons Jr., 89, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. passed away peacefully on August 13, 2026.

Dave was born in Washington, D.C., on November 5, 1936. From an early age, he showed the resilience and determination that would remain part of his character throughout his life. As a first grader living in New York City, he survived polio. In the mid-1940s, his family moved to Hyattsville, Maryland, where Dave graduated from Northwestern High School in 1955.

After high school, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He spent four years at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany as a flight crew engineer in helicopter air rescue. Those years opened the door to a lifetime of adventure and discovery. Dave frequently traveled to nearby Maastricht, Netherlands, and it was during one of those trips that he met the woman who would become the love of his life, Johanna “Mia”. Dave and Mia married and began their life together in Germany, living "on the economy" in the small village of Binsfeld. There, they welcomed their first two children, David and Patricia. In 1960, they returned to Hyattsville, where their family grew with the addition of Pierre, Christopher “Chris”, and “little” Mia. During these years, Dave began his career as an architectural designer.

Dave was a talented designer, but his creativity extended far beyond architecture. He had an artist’s eye and a deep appreciation for beauty in all its forms. He and Mia began traveling to the Southwest, and it was on one of those journeys that they discovered and fell in love with Santa Fe – with its extraordinary light, landscape, architecture, and above all, its artistic spirit. In 1978, they made Santa Fe their home, where he established his own architectural design studio, Thaddeus Design, and built their dream home in the foothills along the Old Santa Fe Trail.

Art was Dave's great lifelong passion. He was drawn to all forms of artistic expression, particularly, drawing, painting and sculpture. He belonged to several art collectives and participated in numerous exhibitions at local galleries, sharing his work with a community that valued his creativity and individuality. After retirement, Dave and Mia moved to Maryland's Eastern Shore, where Dave discovered plein air painting. He loved the freedom of painting outdoors and the challenge of capturing the changing light, color, and character of the world around him. In 2019, after the passing of his beloved wife of 50 years, Dave returned to Santa Fe. He continued to create art for as long as he could, even after losing his sight.

Throughout his life, Dave followed his curiosity, traveling, creating, building, and continually finding new ways to engage with the world. His greatest legacy, however, is the family he

loved and the many lives he touched. A life marked by creativity, perseverance, adventure, and an appreciation for beauty, Dave leaves behind his family, lifelong friends, and a lasting collection of art, memories, and moments of beauty. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Dave is survived by his children, Bernard D. Gibbons III (Anne), Patricia E. Gibbons, and Mia J. Engel (Seth); his grandchildren, Conor Gibbons (Caitlin), David Gibbons, Melea Veith (Joe), Hannah Martinez (Matt), Kyle Martinez (Maria), Taylor Gibbons, Hasya Gibbons (Chris), Max Engel (Peyton), and Coltrane Engel; and his 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, John Gibbons (Kathy). Beyond his immediate family, Dave will be lovingly remembered by his extended family in the Netherlands and Belgium, his cousin Stephanie Klug, his Dooley and Moore cousins, and the many friends whose lives he touched.

Our family extends our deepest gratitude to Emmanuel Alalade, his devoted home caregiver, for the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and loving care he gave Dad, bringing comfort and kindness to his final years.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Johanna Mia Gibbons; his sons, Christopher Richard Gibbons, and Pierre Joseph Gibbons; his grandson, Jeremiah M. Gibbons; his brother, Richard Joseph Gibbons, and his parents, Bernard D. Gibbons Sr. and Marguerite M. Forte.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Fe. A Rosary will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by Mass at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will take place at 12:30 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lighthouse for the Blind in Dave's memory.