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Laura Graniman describes Nick Gilbert with a story about scripts. She’s the CEO of the Gilbert Family Foundation, and he’s always had crazy ideas.
always.
“I would get a text in the middle of the night or at a random time saying, ‘Hey, I have this great idea. I want to introduce you to this guy to do something really moving,’” Granniman Tell pgatour.com. “And it was always a musical artist or a creative professional or someone he met on a trip who had a passion for something.
“He just loved connecting the dots to help people do impactful work, but also to create something really fun and innovative.”
To this end, people think he will be happy.
Thursday was the day of the bow at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. They were worn by the pros and others at the Detroit Golf Club, via a small red pin designed like a lapel pin. You can eat them, thanks to a baked cake like one. The flags of the 9th and 18th hole had a tie down the middle. The caddies also wore bibs with Nick Gilbert’s name on the back, rather than the name of their players.
Gilbert also wore a tie—perhaps most memorable of the 2011 NBA draft, where Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert’s son turned up hoping to get the top pick (it worked)—and now he’s remembered. The 26-year-old passed away last month due to a long-term struggle with neurofibromatosis, which, According to the Mayo ClinicIt is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue.
In an interview with pgatour.com, Grannemann and tournament officials went into action that day, hoping to raise funds and awareness for neurofibromatosis. The tournament and city are inextricably linked with the Gilbert family—Rocket Mortgage co-founder, tournament sponsor, and Detroit-area native Dan and his wife, Jennifer, have donated millions to Detroit.
“Nick was an amazing person,” Graniman told pgatour.com. “I think one of the things that really stands out to me is the fact that he really didn’t let his diagnosis affect him from doing anything. And in fact, it was a driving force for him to constantly move forward with whatever he set out to do.
“He was an incredibly positive person, very optimistic, very outgoing, and always took pride in bringing people together. That’s part of the reason we thought this Bow Tie initiative at Rocket Mortgage Classic would be a great way to honor Nick, because Rocket Mortgage Classic is such an example. Great for bringing people together around a common mission.
“And while you’re at it, you might as well have a little fun.”
Editor’s notes:
– To find out more about the Gilbert Family Foundation, Please click here.
To learn more about NF Forward, a nonprofit that funds neurofibromatosis research, Please click here.
— to read the full pgatour.com story, Please click here.