About Me
This was Gerry Red Wilson. A member of the New York Friars Club, Wilson died Nov. 22, 1998 at the age of 37 from spinal meningitis.
An aspiring TV and stand-up career cut far too short. A native New Yorker, Wilson graduated from Queens College and began teaching in the city's public schools. On nights and weekends, he pursued a career in comedy. He got his first big TV break with ABC and the 1998 midseason replacement sitcom That's Life, and had a development deal with FOX that he was working on another sitcom for when he contracted the disease that took his life.
Seven comedy benefit shows have been held since then, raising more than $200,000 for organizations such as The Meningitis Association of America. Tickets for the March 5 show run from $44.25-$74.25. Donations also can be made directly to the Gerry Red Wilson Foundation by check.
A Quick Word with Greg Fitzsimmons!
Add to My Profile | More Videos
OUR MISSION
Raising public awareness about meningitis and working towards a cure for this deadly disease. Also providing financial assistance in the educational communities where Gerry taught and studied.
WHO WE ARE
The Gerry Red Wilson Foundation, established in 1999, works to raise public awareness of meningitis, help towards finding a cure, as well as, keeping alive the memory and spirit of Gerry Red Wilson. Gerry was a rising comic and television star when Meningitis tragically took his life November 21, 1998 at the age of 37.
Upon graduating from Queens College, Gerry began his career as a teacher in public schools in New York City. His dedication to his students and his ability to make them learn through laughter allowed him to touch many lives. While teaching, Gerry spent his weekends and evenings spreading his gift of laughter as a stand up comic. After several years of working his way through comedy clubs, Gerry became the star of his own television show, “That’s Lifeâ€, on ABC. While in the process of developing another sitcom for FOX, and taping an episode of “Fantasy Island†in Hawaii, Gerry contracted Meningitis and tragically lost his life at the beginning of what would have been a fantastic career.
Since 1999, we have held annual comedy benefits and three golf outings, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. These events have featured comedy celebrities such as Jay Leno, Colin Quinn, Jon Stewart, Dave Attell, Lewis Black, Jim Breuer, Eddie Brill, Adam Ferrara, Greg Fitzsimmons, Janeane Garofalo, Judy Gold, Darrell Hammond, D.L. Hughely, Stephen Lynch, Mark McKinney, Kevin Meaney, Patrice O’Neal, George Wendt, and many others. The G R WF donates generously each year to The Meningitis Foundation of America, and thanks to a donation from the Foundation, Queens College, Gerry’s Alma Mater, will opened a state-of-the-art editing facility. This facility will help students to pursue their dreams as Gerry did his own. The new facility is named after Gerry Red.
