Frederick J. Gillis Jr. - Of West Roxbury, died Tuesday July 14. He was 86.
Born in Washington, DC, he spent his entire life in Boston excepting his three years of Army service in N. Africa and Europe during WW II. He joined the Army Reserves following the war and was promoted to Lt. Col. before retiring from the Army in 1981. He earned his BA and MA from Boston University and taught in the Boston Public Schools. He coached football, track, and crew at English High, was inducted into the English High Athletic Hall of Fame, served as Assist. Director of Adult Ed for Boston and then held the Director of Adult Ed position until his retirement in 1988. He was a member of the Mass Track and Field Officials Assoc., as well as the Joyce Kilmer Legion Post 316, the Bellevue Hill Assoc. and the West Roxbury Civic Assoc.
He married Barbara Keane Gillis in October 1949 and they had 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
He was the beloved husband of Barbara Keane Gillis. Devoted father of Barbara Taylor and her husband John Jr. of Atlanta, GA, Cheryl Lane and her husband Robert of Pembroke, Jean Rogers and her husband Richard of Chattanooga, TN, Michele Cemate and her husband Craig of Atlanta, GA and Frederick Gillis III and his wife Shelly of West Roxbury. Brother of Marlen Egan of Milton and the late Joseph, William, David and Daniel Gillis.
Funeral from the P.E. Murray-George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 2000 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY, Saturday at 9 AM. Funeral mass in St. Theresa’s Church, West Roxbury, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 PM. Interment in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, Monday at 1:45 PM.
Memorial donations may be sent to Mass Track Coaches Association Scholarship, c/o Frank Mooney, 60 Cynthia St., Seekonk, MA 02771.