“He was found unresponsive in a convenience store parking lot,” Scott Gibbs said. On the morning of his appointment, Marcus used again. He was optimistic, but was worried (unnecessarily) that the clinic wouldn’t prescribe maintenance medication to prevent relapse - like methadone - if he didn’t have opioids in his system. Still, Marcus came through it and scheduled an intake appointment with an outpatient rehabilitation program Nov.
Both times, no detox beds were available. The withdrawal was extremely difficult he was taken to the emergency room twice. In late October 2016, after almost a year of heroin addiction, Marcus stopped hiding his dependence and bravely began detoxing at home with his family. “Eventually, he realized he had to stop using heroin because he wanted to live,” his mother, Sue Gibbs said. We are hopeful that his passing will save lives.” –SCOTT GIBBS ’89 (PICTURED WITH SON MARCUS) "I am committed to openly and honestly honoring Marcus and the blessing that he was for our family. He thrived in his new profession but, unbeknownst to his parents, he had relapsed. When he returned to Hilton in October 2015, he became a car salesman. He also lived 60 days in halfway houses and worked two jobs during that time. In June 2015, Marcus went to West Palm Beach, where he completed a week of detox, 30 days of in-patient treatment and approximately 90 days of out-patient treatment. He dropped out of school in his second semester. Both times, Marcus had drugs in his system. He was arrested once and avoided being arrested a second time, ending up in the ER instead. In a piece Marcus wrote before he died, which he and his father intended to become a book about their experiences, Marcus recalled, “In college, after a calculus course…we would smoke fentanyl, snort Vicodin and pop percs until I hit the floor.”Īfter leaving Canisius, Marcus came home and enrolled in a local community college (2014-15). He was arrested for having a large quantity of marijuana within two weeks of arriving, and didn’t like the mandated counseling and supervision he received after that. Marcus also studied finance at Canisius College, but he struggled during his short time there (2013-14). Either through loss and advocacy, addiction and recovery, or careers dedicated to finding answers. This story that follows explores this catastrophe through the eyes of four alumni who live it every day.
It is far-reaching, with implications for healthcare, social and legislative policy, economics and law enforcement. The opioid crisis is extremely complicated. I’ll be forever grateful for Marcus and the way he loved.” EDITOR'S NOTE: I can still remember the last hug he gave me. “Marcus was a hugger,” Scott Gibbs said in a video for Rochester General Hospital’s Donate Life campaign. He ran cross-country in high school and volunteered at Open Door Mission to help men, women and children in need.
A big-hearted guy who loved the outdoors, sports and people. Marcus grew up with his two younger brothers and parents in Hilton, N.Y., a suburb of Rochester. We are hopeful that his passing will save lives. “I am committed to openly and honestly honoring Marcus and the blessing that he was for our family. “When Marcus passed away, I saw so many Union people - including my Sigma Chi brothers and basketball teammates - at the service.” “I have so many fond memories of my four years at Union and the friendships that will last my lifetime,” Scott Gibbs said.
His oldest son had overdosed on a combination of fentanyl and morphine in November 2016. May 2018, Scott Gibbs ’89 emailed the Union College magazine.