Aaron "Gil" Gilman

BREWSTER — Aaron "Gil" Gilman of Brewster, formerly of Provincetown and Long Island, N.Y., passed away at home on Monday, Aug. 25, 2008.

Gil was the devoted husband of Kathryn (Witherstine) for 53 years; loving and cherished father of Fredrick Hemley (Freya), Susan Joseph (Anthony), Nancy Easley, William Gilman (Donna), and Judith Hoelzer (Steven); beloved Grandpa/Poppi to Kimberly Pisano, Daniel and Nicholas Powers, Helen and Glea Hemley, Kathryn and Mack Easley, Robert and Megan Gilman, and Jayne and Mark Hoelzer; and great-grandfather to Tabitha Townsend. He was predeceased by his daughter, Betsy Hemley. Aaron is also survived by his sister, Dr. Rita Harper (Richard) of Flushing, N.Y., and by three nieces, Bonnie, Robin, and Susan and their families.

As a young man, Gil joined the Navy and served as a submarine mariner on the USS Clamagore from 1952 to 1954. He remained a lifetime member of the Clamagore Veterans Association, where he served as treasurer for eight years. He was honored in 2000 for his devoted service and now joins those gone before him on eternal patrol.

Gil enjoyed a long career as an engineer for Cashin Systems of Long Island, N.Y. He traveled the country and Canada for numerous years before retiring in the 1990s. Gil was the ultimate handyman and loved to tinker around his homes and yards. There was not a problem he could not fix. He found many uses for electrical tape.

While summering in Provincetown for more than 40 years, Gil was a member of the Provincetown Yacht Club. He enjoyed racing his sunfish, the Sunanjube (named for his four girls) and win or lose, he had a smile and shared many laughs with friends and comrades at the after-the-race parties. He also enjoyed fishing, boating, and swimming in the water off the family home on Commercial Street in Provincetown. The deck hosted memorable family and friend gatherings that he held near and dear all of his life.

He and Kay traveled the world. Their lives together were an adventure filled with moments like enjoying an Oktoberfest in Germany, taking in the sites of the Mediterranean, exploring the countries of Europe, and discovering the wonders of the U.S. They especially enjoyed their last trip together, a 50th wedding anniversary cruise to Hawaii. Gil was especially touched by the site and history present at their visit to Pearl Harbor.

Gil and Kay moved to Brewster in 1997. Gil made great friends with those included in his weekly poker group. He had great fun around the green felt table. As his poker buddy, John said, "Never a harsh word is spoken, we just have lots of laughs — if the world, was like our poker group, oh, what a great world we would have!"

Gil devoted his last years to caring for his wife, Kay, who suffered a stroke in 2005. He was a simple, stand-up guy who simply loved his wife, family, friends and country beyond measure. He enjoyed simple pleasures like filling his birdhouses for his feathered friends, tending to his tomato plants, and completing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. He had a great dry sense of humor and loved to make his family and friends laugh with a funny pun or a humorous e-mail. Not many like him walk this earth.

The family will greet friends and have a memorial service on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Doane, Beale & Ames Funeral Home, Route 134, South Dennis. A private burial will be held in New York.

Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, are requested to a charity of one's choice, or to the Clamagore Veterans Association, c/o George Bass, 132 Still House Road, Franklin, NC 28734.

Doane, Beal & Ames

508-385-7116