Remembering Tyger Gilbert - 1949 - 2026
Tyger Ray Gilbert
1949 – September 24, 2026
American Mensa mourns the loss of Tyger Gilbert, who served as Publications Officer (then an appointed AMC position) from 1990-1991 and 2001-2003. Earlier, Tyger served as editor of Greater Phoenix Mensa's “Much Ado About Mensa,” bringing home the Owl Award for best overall local group newsletter in 1987.
Tyger was an entrepreneur from childhood, when some pet mice became the foundation for his Mouse Ranch (cuisine for the discerning reptile?) in Estes Park, CO. He was a member of Estes Park High School Class of 1967. His book on growing up in Colorado is available on Amazon. His advertising agency office in Phoenix became pre-press headquarters for both “Much Ado About Mensa” and “The Mensa Bulletin” over nearly a decade.
In the era of the floppy disk, Tyger's PC video game Five Play never caught on, though look-alikes did – and remain popular to this day. His revolutionary matchmaking program LifeMate faded in the shadow of online dating platforms. Not one to dwell on defeat, Tyger put his programming skills to work for nationally syndicated radio host Kim Komando and for libertarian news aggregator Freedom's Phoenix.
Tyger remains beloved for his unfailing good humor; willingness to entertain viewpoints other than his own; and his contagious enthusiasm for wordplay, instrumental surf rock, Star Trek everything, hiking, and nature photography. His photographic tribute to the beauty of Arizona can be found on various print-on-demand online platforms.
Thank you for being with us, my friend. My best man.
-- Kent Van Cleave, Editor of the Mensa Bulletin 1985-1992
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-- From Life Member Kebba Buckley Button
I was sad to read that Tyger Gilbert had passed away in September. I had known him since my earliest days in Greater Phoenix Mensa, probably the mid-1980's. At that time, Tyger-- his given name-- had an advertising agency in an office building on 7th St. Back then, we met at Gilbert Advertising and put the MAAM (Much Ado About Mensa) together by creating paper paste-ups on stiff paperboard. MAAM Editor Tyger was always patient and pleasant with the 6-10 volunteers, always gracious. One night, I tipped over a bottle of the liquid rubber cement (glue), and Tyger rescued it quickly, before it could ruin the page I was trying to put together. He kept saying it was OK. I felt terrible, but the damage was in fact repaired.
Tyger loved a pun. His favorite MAAM section was the Classy Fiedads. His print MAAMs were always beautiful.
Tyger had an eye for natural beauty. Once, I gave him an early ride to the Airport, and we crossed the Salt River just as dawn was breaking. Tyger commented on the sunrise colors, mainly pinks at that moment. I looked-- it was magnificent-- and I would have missed that glorious sky art if Tyger had not pointed it out. My mind had been totally on my To Do's.
We overlapped in Mensa business when Tyger was the National Communications Officer and I was the National LDW Coordinator. It was fun discussing national issues with him. And there are so many issues.
I knew Tyger had a degree in commercial art and had grown up in Steamboat Springs, CO. He was an amazing nature photographer. He had a sister (Sherry?) in Glendale, and his mother would visit from time to time. She, too, was kind and gracious, but she didn't have Tyger's way of bursting into gentle laughter at any amusing moment.
We lost touch in recent years, as I ran my journey with cancer and widowhood. Then I learned Tyger had been dealing with cancer also. Alas, while I won my battle, Tyger lost his. His life was well-lived. May he rest in peace. And many will long remember him with love and with gentle laughter.
1949 – September 24, 2026
American Mensa mourns the loss of Tyger Gilbert, who served as Publications Officer (then an appointed AMC position) from 1990-1991 and 2001-2003. Earlier, Tyger served as editor of Greater Phoenix Mensa's “Much Ado About Mensa,” bringing home the Owl Award for best overall local group newsletter in 1987.
Tyger was an entrepreneur from childhood, when some pet mice became the foundation for his Mouse Ranch (cuisine for the discerning reptile?) in Estes Park, CO. He was a member of Estes Park High School Class of 1967. His book on growing up in Colorado is available on Amazon. His advertising agency office in Phoenix became pre-press headquarters for both “Much Ado About Mensa” and “The Mensa Bulletin” over nearly a decade.
In the era of the floppy disk, Tyger's PC video game Five Play never caught on, though look-alikes did – and remain popular to this day. His revolutionary matchmaking program LifeMate faded in the shadow of online dating platforms. Not one to dwell on defeat, Tyger put his programming skills to work for nationally syndicated radio host Kim Komando and for libertarian news aggregator Freedom's Phoenix.
Tyger remains beloved for his unfailing good humor; willingness to entertain viewpoints other than his own; and his contagious enthusiasm for wordplay, instrumental surf rock, Star Trek everything, hiking, and nature photography. His photographic tribute to the beauty of Arizona can be found on various print-on-demand online platforms.
Thank you for being with us, my friend. My best man.
-- Kent Van Cleave, Editor of the Mensa Bulletin 1985-1992
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- From Life Member Kebba Buckley Button
I was sad to read that Tyger Gilbert had passed away in September. I had known him since my earliest days in Greater Phoenix Mensa, probably the mid-1980's. At that time, Tyger-- his given name-- had an advertising agency in an office building on 7th St. Back then, we met at Gilbert Advertising and put the MAAM (Much Ado About Mensa) together by creating paper paste-ups on stiff paperboard. MAAM Editor Tyger was always patient and pleasant with the 6-10 volunteers, always gracious. One night, I tipped over a bottle of the liquid rubber cement (glue), and Tyger rescued it quickly, before it could ruin the page I was trying to put together. He kept saying it was OK. I felt terrible, but the damage was in fact repaired.
Tyger loved a pun. His favorite MAAM section was the Classy Fiedads. His print MAAMs were always beautiful.
Tyger had an eye for natural beauty. Once, I gave him an early ride to the Airport, and we crossed the Salt River just as dawn was breaking. Tyger commented on the sunrise colors, mainly pinks at that moment. I looked-- it was magnificent-- and I would have missed that glorious sky art if Tyger had not pointed it out. My mind had been totally on my To Do's.
We overlapped in Mensa business when Tyger was the National Communications Officer and I was the National LDW Coordinator. It was fun discussing national issues with him. And there are so many issues.
I knew Tyger had a degree in commercial art and had grown up in Steamboat Springs, CO. He was an amazing nature photographer. He had a sister (Sherry?) in Glendale, and his mother would visit from time to time. She, too, was kind and gracious, but she didn't have Tyger's way of bursting into gentle laughter at any amusing moment.
We lost touch in recent years, as I ran my journey with cancer and widowhood. Then I learned Tyger had been dealing with cancer also. Alas, while I won my battle, Tyger lost his. His life was well-lived. May he rest in peace. And many will long remember him with love and with gentle laughter.
Slide Show of memories of GPM Member Tyger Gilbert
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