Philip D. Giberson, Jr.
and
Jo-Dee Mercurio Giberson

Last updated: July 1, 2006

 

 PG since graduating HHS, the short version:

1960-64 BA in Theatre from U of Florida

1964-69 Founding Drama Director at Miami Springs Senior High, Principal John Jenkins (former teacher at HHS)

Dec 1968 Phil's dad dies in a freak shooting; in the wrong place at the wrong time

1964-70 Summers, Professional theatre work (Actor, Company Manager, Director) at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, Arrow Rock, Missouri

1969-70 MA in Directing and Theatre Management from Memphis State University

1970-72 hired to teach theatre at Memphis State University

1970-75 married and divorced, no children

1972-78 Hired as Founding Theatre Program Chairman at Florida International University in Miami, Florida

1978-91 Phil takes what turns out to be permanent leave of absence from his Tenured Associate Professorship at FIU to try his luck as a free lance stage director based in New York - After a couple of years tending bar part time while learning the ropes, he actually learns how to make his living in "the show business"

But the luckiest thing that happened during that period was realizing that he had fallen in love with an old Miami bud, Jo-Dee Mercurio, (since the late 60's - they used to have drinks & stuff in the 70's and laugh at each other's stupid relationships). They get married October 1, 1983; Phil promises to make Jo-Dee laugh and they move to Harlem, NYC.

1991-Present Phil and Jo-Dee relocate back to Miami Springs and join Jo-Dee's family business, Star Styled Dancing Suppplies located in Hialeah

May 1995 Phil's mom Dorothy dies at the age of 85

February 1996 Jo-Dee's dad Joseph dies unexpectedly but peacefully in his sleep at the age of 67 - Philip is asked by Joanne, Jo-Dee's mom to become president of Star Styled, which he does. They live in a wonderful little bungelow in Miami Springs, and Star Styled continues to grow.

They were at the first mini-reunion held at Winter Park in 1997, and to each one since.