JULY 20 • 2023 | 19

A DETERMINED FIGHTER
Angela Sebald formed a special bond 
with Nick during his college years, 
working as MSU’s blindness and 
visual impairment specialist. Sebald’s 
job was to provide access so Nick 
could be successful in his courses. 
Sebald was in Nick’s life almost every 
day of his college career.
In 2018, when Nick underwent the 
first of his two brain surgeries in a 
short span, he also happened to have 
three exams that week. While in the 
hospital, Nick and Dan video-called 
Sebald. Nick, being Nick, looked at it 
as just another challenge.
“I’m gonna get this brain surgery 
done real quick, and then I’ll come 
back and take my three exams 
tomorrow,” Nick said on the call. 
“Dan and I were laughing because 
Nick would never dwell on the bad 
things that were happening to him,” 
Sebald said. “He would often talk 
about the hand he was dealt and how 
he was going to play it to the best of 
his ability, and he absolutely did.”
Steve Watts, who witnessed 
Nick’s perseverance firsthand as 
his occupational therapist, said, 
“Watching him over the years in this 
battle with NF was awe-inspiring. 
Undoubtedly, he’s the toughest 
person I’ve ever met.” 
Watts gave a lot of thought as 
to how Nick would want to be 
remembered. Helping others to live 
their lives to the fullest, despite their 
diagnosis and prognosis, is what 
Nick would have wanted his legacy 
to be.
Nick graduated from Michigan 
State University in 2020 with a 
marketing degree. Nick wanted to 
do so many things, having a knack 
for great ideas he wanted to see 
through.
“He was a visionary,” Jennifer said. 
“I have no doubt he would have 
done huge things — he had really 
big ideas and wasn’t afraid to chase 
after them and figure out a way to 

get them done.” 
Many of those ideas focused 
on sports and the music scene in 
Detroit. One project of his will 
be coming to fruition fairly soon. 
Nick’s last project, one he had been 
working on for the last few years, 
was to build and operate a sports bar 
in Downtown Detroit. 
The sports bar, set to open about a 
year from now, will be called Gilly’s 
— the nickname Nick’s friends 
affectionately called him. Many of 
those friends, along with his loving 
family and an endless number of 
people Nick touched throughout his 
life, will certainly be in attendance to 
remember and celebrate him on the 
bar’s opening night. 

A LASTING LEGACY
Nick Gilbert climbed Masada. More 
importantly, Nick Gilbert climbed 
the mountain of life. From birth, he 
was at a disadvantage. He had every 
opportunity to give up when it got 
too hard.
Instead, Nick faced life’s many 
battles head-on, living one day at 
a time, each as if it was his last. 
He was devoted to his friends and 
family, often thinking of them before 
himself even while facing the most 
adversity of anyone. His story will 
continue to inspire individuals, 
families and the NF community 
worldwide.
Undoubtedly, the research 
conducted in Nick’s memory will 
save many and allow for countless 
others to live life to its fullest just as 
he did. 
For every day of his life, Nick 
Gilbert climbed and climbed. He 
put one foot in front of the other, 
not comparing or worrying about 
others who had it easier, instead 
encouraging them to keep going.
Nick Gilbert’s life, from one per-
spective, was an uphill climb. But if 
you were to ask Nick himself, every 
second of life was the summit. 

RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: Nick enjoying his favorite meal — macaroni and cheese. 
Nick vacationing in Turks and Caicos in 2013.

