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FUNERAL HOME

Riverside Memorial Chapel - New York

180 West 76th Street

New York City, New York

GILLIAN GILLERS Obituary

Name: Funeral for GILLIAN GILLERS
Start: 2021-09-20T16:00:00.000Z
Location: Riverside Memorial Chapel

GILLERS--Gillian B. With deep sadness we report the death of our daughter Gillian Gillers on September 15. Gillian attended Yale College. In a semester away, she became fluent in Spanish, which was valuable to her work on immigrant rights as a Yale law student and later. After college, she worked for an NGO in Ecuador and as a reporter at the Tico Times in Costa Rica. She reported in Spanish, but wrote in English, including an interview with the president. In Costa Rica, she worked for a British television station on a documentary about the harsh prison system. Back in the United States, Gillian was a paralegal at Brooklyn Federal Defenders. After law school, she clerked for a district judge in Philadelphia and a Fifth Circuit judge in New Orleans. On a Gruber Fellowship from Yale, she began a year's internship at the Southern Poverty Law Center and stayed five years. She litigated civil rights cases in Georgia and the south. Mostly she represented immigrant parents and children separated at the southern border. The funeral will be noon on Monday September 20, 2021 at Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 West 76th (at Amsterdam). For a Zoom link, email: [email protected]. Contributions in Gillian's honor can be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Sep. 18, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for GILLIAN GILLERS

32 Entries

Lee Gelernt

September 12, 2023

You will always be remembered as a fierce defender of the vulnerable. Lee Gelernt

Jean Pennie (Judge Schiller)

November 17, 2022

We think of Gillian often and very fondly. She was a lovely addition to our Chambers during her time with us. May her memory be a blessing.

Grateful SPLC colleague

September 12, 2022

The impact of Gillian's life and the void in her loss remains.

Justin Chaney

March 29, 2022

This is so sad. She was always the most thoughtful and positive person in the room.

Gemma Cooper-Novack

March 1, 2022

I am so sorry to hear this. My memories of Gillian from childhood are of her perennial sweetness and ebullience; seeing the work she did as an adult, I'm so impressed by who she became. What an amazing life, and what a loss. Thinking of all of you.

Peter Cook

November 15, 2021

I was so saddened to read this news in the Yale alumni magazine. Gillian and I did improv together for a year at school, and she was so funny, thoughtful and warm. She brought a totally unique sensibility to every rehearsal and show, and utterly fearless commitment to the biggest, boldest, most wonderful choices onstage. She also, I remember distinctly, gave fantastic hugs. We only knew her briefly, but in sharing this news with other members of the group, everyone remembers her with immense affection and admiration. Sincere condolences to her family and friends from all of us in the Viola Question.

Lee Gelernt and Michelle Gelernt

October 12, 2021

Gillian was the best!!

John McPhaul

September 22, 2021

I met Gillian at The Tico Times in Costa Rica. She was a tenacious reporter. Once she was grilling the country's Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno and he gave me a bemused look like, "Who is this little girl." Undeterred Gillian continued her questioning until she was satisfied with the answer. My heart-felt condolences to her family.

Rob Bartlett

September 22, 2021

I´m really sorry to hear this. I worked with Gillian at The Tico Times and she was far too smart and kind to have gone so young.

Blake Schmidt

September 22, 2021

I am so sorry for the loss of Gillian. I crossed path with her in Costa Rica, where we were both reporters at The Tico Times. She was incredibly kind-spirited and deeply curious, a joy to be around. It is encouraging to hear about the work she did as a lawyer on civil rights cases. Please accept my condolences.

Chris Rini

September 21, 2021

I did not know Gillian long, but she would visit our family once a year and it was an event we´d look forward to. She breathed life into a room and made everyone feel interesting and welcome. My condolences to all her family and friends.

Katherine Stanley

September 21, 2021

In our family, whenever Gillian's name comes up in a story, my husband and I inevitably smile because that's just the effect she has and the kind of person she was: so kind and funny and gentle, yet whip-smart and, of course, incredibly talented. I am heartbroken by this news and send my heartfelt condolences to her family. It was such a joy to know her when she lived here in Costa Rica, and it's so inspiring to see everything she accomplished afterwards. She did so much for others and was just a lovely person. She will not be forgotten.

Sharon Sonenshine

September 21, 2021

I didn´t know Gillian very well but i have such fond memories of her sweet beautiful smile... the love she had for Sarah and Collin and all of the Cott family ... i am so saddened at her loss, and wish much love and pray for strength to all of her family at this very tough time ... sending my love

Heidi M Romanish

September 21, 2021

Oh, such fond memories of a smiling, optimistic Gillian in Costa Rica. It was a joy to know her, and to know of her so many contributions and kindness in too short of a life lived. Salud Gillers, the struggle continues.

Blake Feldman

September 20, 2021

Wishing Gillian's family strength and peace during this difficult time. Literally everyone who worked with her speaks so, so highly of her. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Margaret Huang

September 20, 2021

Gillian had a beautiful impact on all of her colleagues who were inspired and moved by her commitment to our shared work. She will be deeply missed. We wish all of her loved ones peace and solace.

Viviana Garcia

September 20, 2021

My deepest condolences to Gillian's family and all who she touched. She was a selfless, kindhearted and genuine individual. She will be missed dearly. RIP Gillian.

Rose Murray

September 20, 2021

Gillian was a kind and loving soul who left us much too soon. She will be missed every day.

Monica Whatley

September 20, 2021

My condolences to Gillian's family and all who loved her. She was an absolutely wonderful colleague.

Izabel Blankenship

September 20, 2021

Gillian was a fierce advocate and a caring colleague. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate her colleagues even though she didn't eat cake. She will be greatly missed. With sincere sympathies to her family.

Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer

Planted Trees

Lynn Yudofsky

September 20, 2021

Gillian was such a lovely person and so special in all ways. She was certainly an angel among us! She will be missed beyond expression. With heartfelt sympathies to her family.

Josh & Allie Simon

September 19, 2021

Gillian seems like an incredible, compassionate, and hard-working person. We send our condolences and make this donation to an organization that she was passionate about, knowing that her memory will live on at SPLC.

Lecia Brooks

September 19, 2021

My deepest condolences to Gillian's family and friends. A beautiful soul, too soon gone. Her kindness and compassion live on.

Romy

September 18, 2021

I will never forget working with Gillian on some of our first cases in law school, representing teenagers from Central America fleeing gang violence. I learned so much working with her. Gillian was such a warm, empathetic, and selfless advocate, colleague, and friend. My deepest condolences to her family.

Al DeRogas

September 18, 2021

A caring person In an cold and uncaring world, her achievements are legend, especially for someone so young. My condolences to her family and friends, who have lost a human treasure.

Isabel Otero

September 18, 2021

My deepest condolences to Gillian's family. She was an incredible advocate and colleague, and she will be missed. May you all find peace in her beautiful memory.

Jen

September 18, 2021

I did not know Gillian well in law school, but I do remember first meeting her at the beginning of my 1L year. I was sitting at a table in the dining hall with several first years I had just met, and they were talking about clerkships and etc. Coming from an immigrant background, I asked some stupid questions. The rest of the group proceeded to talk to each other. I recall feeling isolated, until Gillian, who was sitting opposite me, started talking to me and put me at ease. I don't recall what she said, but I do recall how she made me feel at that moment. And for that, I will always be grateful.

There is an Eastern belief that the purpose of living is to improve one's soul, and that once a soul has reached a certain state of perfection, it would return home. Perhaps Gillian's kind and humble soul has reached that perfection before the rest of us. I hope this does not come across as presumptuous. I merely want to offer this thought in hopes of lifting, however momentarily, the sorrow of those who love and dearly miss her. My sincere condolences.

Shirley Gray

September 18, 2021

In memory of Gillian Gillers

Alexis delaney

September 18, 2021

Gillian and I coedited the Brearley yearbook. She was smart, silly and kind.

Ben Earle

September 18, 2021

Remembering a good friend and a wonderful person

Carolyn Perla and Joseph Cahalan

September 18, 2021

With enormous sadness and to honor Gillian´s passion for helping immigrant families.