Robert J. Gillis

Dear Zita:
Sitting here in Bangalore, India, where I do volunteer work in the winter months, your name popped in my mind. I Googled, and here was the news of Bob's passing. I was one of your dorm director's at Adrian in 1973-75; remember the laughs when you two came to our Halloween Party the wrong night, all dressed up?! I was Bethany Kaiman then. I still use your sour cream cranberry coffee cake recipe, which I promised to not make in Adrian! Since 1978, I have lived in Vermont...

Zita & family,
I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope Bobby's having a good laugh with Nana & Peg right this minute.

I always looked forward to the Gillis' visits to Bellows Falls.In 1965 I took a trip to Adrian to stay for a few weeks with the family where Bob was teaching at Adrian College. We then drove back across the country to Bellows Falls. I'll always remember that trip. I'll always remember "Uncle" Bob showing up at Nana's and her spoiling him!

As a boy growing up in Bellows Falls, I would hear adults discuss the outstanding student athletes from BFHS. The name Bob Gillis was always mentioned. He was also part of the " pipeline " from BF to Adrian College. Bellows Falls High School has lost one its finest. Rest in peace, Bob Gillis.

My Uncle Bobby Gillis took me to an 8-week boys' camp in Wolfboro, NH, in the summer of 1951. The camp was tough but it helped change me for the better. Uncle Bobby now joins his sisters Mary Gillis Griffin (my mother) and Margaret "Peg" Pintello (my aunt) in God's Heavenly Kingdom. God Bless them all!