Russ Gibson dies at 69

By Greg Sullivan

Herald News Staff Reporter

Posted Jul 27, 2008, 4:37 PM

Fall River - He lived the dream - a double dream, actually - of a Fall River sports-loving kid.

Russ Gibson was a three-sport star at Durfee High School, a junior starting forward on the 1956 basketball team that won both the Tech Tourney and New England championships before huge crows - many from Fall River - at the old Boston Garden. Ten years after graduating from Durfee, Gibson was the starting catcher for the 1967 "Impossible Dream" Red Sox team that captured the American League pennant.

One of the Spindle City's all-time favorite sons, one who never ever forgot his roots, died this weekend - either late Saturday or early Sunday, according to his son Chris - at Swan Brook Assisted Living in Swansea.

John Russell Gisbon had struggled with his health for more than a decade, undergoing multiple dialysis treatments each week and battling heart problems.