RIP Dominic Philbert

Last Thursday around 7 p.m., a reader told us that several ambulances and fire trucks were outside Bikes By George on East Fourth Street. "I could see a paramedic performing CPR on George's son. Hoping to see a post later the he's okay..."

George's son, Dominic Philbert, who worked for his dad since he was 16, died that night. He was 43. We don't know any more details at this time.

The shop was closed Friday.

A sign on the store's front window provides information about the memorial service.

We last discussed Dominic in late May, when Dateline NBC's Chris Hansen taped a segment on stolen bicycles. According to the Dateline promo, "it's the most explosive confrontation of Hansen's career." Hansen confronts Dominic Philbert about having bought a stolen bike. And the cameras keep rolling as Dominic becomes increasingly agitated. It's difficult to watch.

Dominic later told Bob Arihood that he gave a man — a paid actor — $25 for a bike. The man told Dominic that he had lost his job and needed money to feed his kids. NBC did not show this exchange between Dominic and the actor.

In a more pleasant video, here's a clip of George and Dominic from the documentary "The City."

[Photo by Bob Arihood]

For further reading on George Philbert:
East Village bicycle legend just keeps on rolling (The Villager)