Gary Segal knows civil discourse is key.
Segal’s life experiences — from becoming a freedom rider to mentoring the youth of today — has helped him understand individuals with opposing views should remain respectful.
“There’s absolutely nothing special about me,” said the Village of Pine Ridge resident. “I just see the world differently.”
During a presentation given to Civil Discourse South, one of the discussion-based groups in The Villages, Segal defined civil discourse and talked about incidents that had a major impact on his life. The presentation, titled “A Journey from The Bronx to The Villages,” took place Sept. 3 at Everglades Recreation.
“Civil Discourse is a respectful and constructive way to discuss public issues and exchange views, with the goal of promoting understanding and expanding knowledge,” Segal said at the beginning the presentation. “It can help people bridge divides and make informed decisions that are important for citizens and governments.”
Segal briefly shared moments from his early childhood, from growing up in a household of seven people sharing three bedrooms on the fifth floor of a Bronx, New York, apartment building to being friends with pro-football Hall of Famer Floyd Little while living in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1955.
In the 1960s, Segal began to intentionally fight racial injustice following the murders of civil rights activists Viola Liuzzo, Mickey Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman, three of whom were also members of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
Segal said the growing violence in the nation compelled him to join CORE and become a freedom rider in 1965 — which led to him riding a bus to North Carolina to register Black voters.
“I remember getting on the bus as a freedom rider taking the journey from Central Park to North Carolina,” he said. “Most of us were in our 18 to 20s and college students. There was a lot of camaraderie on the bus. None of us anticipated any problems. Maybe because we were young and naive, even though we knew people had been killed before.
“(Organizers) asked us to write as many letters as possible in case we didn’t make it back,” Segal said. “I wrote to my wife and mother basically saying, ‘I’m sorry but this is a cause I really believe in.'”
The seriousness of the situation set in when the Klu Klux Klan attacked the bus.
“We were stopped at the county line by police officers and really thought we were getting an escort, but that didn’t happen,” he said. “The police stopped the bus and when the driver opened the door to talk to the officers, the KKK came out from the bushes. The bus driver shut the door, so they couldn’t get in. It seemed to last forever, but it was only a few minutes. They were banging on the doors and they bashed out the headlights.”
Because it’s illegal for a bus to drive without headlights, the group was forced to get off the bus and wait for another to arrive. Segal said despite not getting the welcoming party they imagined, the riders still worked to register voters, though he feels fear of violent retaliation stopped people from registering.
“We told people we would accompany them to town hall, but a lot of people said no,” he said. “I think they wanted to vote, but they were afraid to register. This was the mid-’60s, so it was a very different place.”
After getting a degree in math and a doctorate in psychology, Segal worked as a research analyst Bell Laboratories, then an as adjunct professor at four schools, including University of New Haven and Lake-Sumter State College.
Segal decided to move to The Villages in 2015. His main activities include playing golf, bridge and tutoring students.
“Even today I must keep busy,” he said. “While working at Bell Labs, I learned you treat the big kids like the little kids and the little kids like the big kids.”
Segal does this daily by doing small takes from giving water to the waste collectors or making plaques for the students he tutors.
He mentors and tutors students at Beverly Shores Elementary, Wildwood Middle High School and Florida A&M University. Mentoring is what inspired him to join The African American Club of The Villages (TAAC).
“I’m an introvert, so I don’t really join clubs, but I enjoy helping the kids,” Segal said. “I got a notification TAAC was looking for mentors for students at Wildwood Middle High School. That was three years ago and I haven’t missed a meeting.”
“One time I told my neighbor I joined TAAC and he said, ‘Why would you join a group like that? What do you have in common with them?’ I said to him, we are all human beings and walked away.”
Bill Holliday, resident of the Village of Pine Hills and TAAC member, has been the co-chair of the TAAC scholarship program, working with Segal to mentor and provide scholarships to local youth. Holliday said Segal has been the team leader at Leesburg High School and Wildwood Middle High School.
“Gary is a true professional in everything he does,” Holliday said. “He is very thoughtful and is a diamond in the rough. He works with students with a passion and devotion to have the betterment of all human kind.
“He meets the kids where they are,” he said. “He has life experiences in his personal life and corporate work that he shares with students when appropriate. He makes it simple to understand respect and love for all mankind.”
The Civil Discourse Group of The Villages meets on the first Wednesday of every month. The group will have its next meeting from 10 to 11 a.m. Nov. 5 at Everglades Recreation.
Ian Walmsley, coordinator for the group, said he wants to bring in presenters who can give his or her personal history and let it be inspiring.
“Hopefully people learn a little of history and even if they have opposing views, they can still be respectful,” the Village of St. Charles resident said.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
