- Timbers Army
- Gisele Currier with her favorite NASL Timber, Jimmy Kelly.
Gisele Currier, a supporter of the Timbers since their humble NASL beginnings and a Timbers Army institution, passed away Sunday night. She was 55.
A constant at Timbers matches who witnessed the team’s rise to MLS from her seat at the top of Section 107, Currier is being hailed as the TA’s “Matriarch” and “Queen” today, and owner Merritt Paulson called her “one of the most supportive and loyal fans a team could ever imagine.”
More after the jump.
- Allison Andrews
- Portland Timbers players—including current GM/technical director Gavin Wilkinson—lay roses on the seat in memory of Gisele’s younger sister, Paula, who died in 2003.
A heartfelt tribute is the top story on the Timbers’ home page right now, and both Timbers Army and The O have obituaries, with the latter reporting the team will honor Currier at Saturday’s game against Real Salt Lake.
From the Oregonian story:
“Gisele is one of the reasons why the Timbers Army is not a monoculture of young lads with a hooligan fetish, but a place where people of all walks of life can come together, support our team, our city, and each other,” Timbers Army member James Harrison said. “Hard to describe the depth of the loss to an outsider, but yes, she was our queen, our matriarch, our living Timbers history. There are a lot of tears being shed right now.”
The Timbers Army/107ist has also set up a memorial fund, while the Talk Timbers message board at Soccer City USA is paying its respects.
I bought my very first scarf from Gisele, like hundreds of others before me. She was the nicest person in the Timbers Army and always had a smile and a hug for you. I had the privilege of speaking to her at the home opener. So sad that it was for the last time. Rest in peace, Gisele.