Whether they call him “Johnny Ginkgo Seed,” “Teacher,” “Dr. Bob” or just “Bob,” friends of community activist Robert Brundage say he is a role model.

At presstime June 25, Brundage remained in critical condition at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center after a 15 year-old allegedly attacked him for his bicycle June 22.

More than 100 friends and family met June 23 at the Collingwood Arts Center to wish him a speedy recovery.

“Last year, he had a bike accident and hip fracture and I thought this was going to be his chance to settle into being old, but not three weeks later, he was back on his bike,” said Steve Hallock, who knows Brundage through various community activist groups. “If there is anybody who is capable of pulling out of this, it is him; and when he does, I assume he’ll be back on his bike.”

Robert Brundage

Tireless fighter

Brundage has tirelessly fought for equality, environmental preservation and community empowerment in Toledo, said Jeff Nelson, who worked with Brundage to preserve Scott High School last year.

After moving back to Ohio from Boston in 1997, Brundage served as the treasurer of the Collingwood Arts Center, works on Central City Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation, Community Shares of Northwest Ohio, Jobs with Justice, Parents for Public Schools,  Urban Coalition, Building Bridges toward Racial Harmony and more, according to  Collingwood ArtsCenter.org.

“If he dies, it’s going to be a real blow to this community and I think the world will have lost a nice, gentle, productive citizen,” Nelson said.

Scholar and musician

With a Ph.D. in biophysics from Brandeis University, Brundage worked in Boston to design medical instruments, while balancing his cello playing and love for music. He recorded and edited performances for Harvard University, MIT, New England Conservatory and others for this third career, according to the Art Center Web site.

“He went to Toledo Public Schools for high school and then to the Ivy Leagues,” said long-term friend Michael Szuberla. “He left a comfy lifestyle in Boston to try to make Toledo better.”

Szuberla said Brundage loves to work with children and teach them about different trees and plants. He earned his nickname “Johnny Ginkgo Seed” because he frequents the Toledo Botanical Garden with a large pot on his head and passes out ginkgo seeds to advocate their strong, medicinal benefits.

Lorna Gonsalves, who started a children’s program called Human Values for Transformative Action, said she plans to have her students plant a little forest in Brundage’s name — and she’s expecting he’ll be around to help.

Joe Zsigray, executive director of the Collingwood Arts Center, said Brundage was instrumental in shaping the center. He helped Zsigray engineer acoustical panels around the auditorium to improve sound quality for performances.

Brundage fulfilled another dream recently after he and other Scott High School alums persuaded voters to support preserving Toledo’s oldest high school rather than tearing it down, said Warren Woodberry, who worked with him on the project. The last time Woodberry talked to Brundage before the incident, he was elated because the two had just finalized a room at the Collingwood Arts Center to display historical artifacts from the high school and pay tribute to its rich history. The two discussed producing a play about the high school, and Woodberry said he would carry out those plans.

Attacker confessed

Dailahntae Jemison is in custody at the Juvenile Detention Center, facing an aggravated robbery charge, said Sgt. Bill Wauford.

Detective James Couch apprehended him and Jemison confessed within a couple hours after Toledo police officers responded to a witness’ call about Brundage lying unconscious at the corner of Collingwood Boulevard and Victoria Place, Wauford said.

Jemison, who reportedly assaulted Brundage while attempting to steal his bicycle, could face trial as an adult if Brundage dies, he said.

Kris Moazed told the group at the Collingwood Arts Center that they should pray for both “Bob” and his attacker.

“We all know he would really appreciate that we pray for the boy who assaulted him,” she said.

In a June 24 statement, the Brundage family said, “In the short time he has been at St. V.’s, he has shown incremental improvements of increased response. He is currently undergoing further testing and we remain hopeful that [he] will continue to improve.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 6:31 pm and is filed under Community.
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