Jabez Choi Photo
Yusuf Gürsey at a pro-Palestinian rally in April, before his death.
At a memorial service for 70-year-old local peace activist Yusuf Gürsey, friends and colleagues joined in person and over Zoom from all over the world — California, Puerto Rico, Turkey — to share stories and poems for the hit-and-run victim.
All knew him as a lover of languages, a beach fanatic, and a seemingly shy but loyal friend who had a fierce commitment to the liberation of all oppressed people.
That memorial service was held at the New Haven Peoples Center at 37 Howe St. Sunday afternoon.
Gürsey was struck by a car on the night of April 28 in the area of Whalley Avenue and Brownell Street, as he walked home after attending a pro-Palestinian rally and march downtown earlier in the day.
A photo on display at Sunday’s memorial service showed how he held a CT Community Party sign that read “Ceasefire Now” at the rally. He had written his own message in black marker: “Liberate Gaza.”
He would die in the hospital early the next morning.
Gürsey’s friend of over 20 years and fellow activist Jim Pandaru recollected years of conversations about world history, a pastime that many in the room shared with Gürsey.
“His vast knowledge never ceased to amaze me,” Pandaru said. “He was a true scholar and comrade in every sense of the word.”
Gürsey was born in Turkey, Feb. 15, 1954, to a family of scientists — both his award-winning father Fenz and his mother Suha Pamir taught and researched physics at Yale. Gürsey himself graduated with a PhD in applied physics from Brown.
In New Haven, Gürsey was active in several peace and justice organizations including the Communist Party, the Greater New Haven Peace Council, New Haven Rising, the City of New Haven Peace Commission, and the Ward 24 Democratic Committee. He was an avid reader, historian, translator, and linguist, as described by his friends. He’d often grab friends to rush with him into restaurants or cafés whose owners spoke languages he was fascinated with.
Pandaru remembered the night Gürsey passed away — he was right by his side at Yale New Haven Hospital. After a neurosurgeon had called him after Gürsey was struck and transported to the hospital, Pandaru rushed to his bedside.
“I held his hand and reassured him that he had a great team of doctors working on him and that I wouldn’t leave him alone until he pulled out of this,” Pandaru said. “At approximately 4:30 in the morning, Yusuf passed away peacefully, and I was still holding his hand.”
According to New Haven Police Department spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart, the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made yet.
Bill Doares met Gürsey when he was in kindergarten and Gürsey in first grade. It was Gürsey’s family that introduced Doares to Turkish culture, society, and language, which ultimately led to a fascination with the Middle East. The interest would later manifest between the two friends in a shared solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Gürsey was described as always holding a sign at rallies, always handing out fliers at vigils and conferences. He often gave webinars at the Bay Area’s Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library.
“Like a river, there are many tributaries. And a river keeps swelling in all different directions. That river will come onto the sea and the future for which he dedicated his life will be born,” Doares said. “We will live in a world free of war and exploitation, in a socialist world.”
Edgewood Alder Evette Hamilton spoke, with tears in her eyes, describing Gürsey as a “humble” and “quiet” man. Hamilton emphasized that behind this persona, was a loyal and knowledgeable man, who was “always present” in his community. The last time Hamilton remembered seeing Gürsey was at a sermon before the protest rally in April.
At one of her last community meetings with Gürsey, Hamilton noted that he mentioned street safety. Now, Hamilton said that she intends to try to rename the corner of Whalley and Brownell after Gürsey.
“Good spirits live on,” Hamilton said. “They transcend time and space and lives and resurrect to other good spirits.”
Jabez Choi Photo
Activist and close friend Jim Pandaru: “He was a true scholar and comrade in every sense of the word.”
Guests at the service were able to help themselves to Turkish food, provided by Pandaru.