Walter Friedrich Gilges

Walter Friedrich Gilges (Papa), of Pittsford and Pultneyville, NY and Brentwood TN, passed away on Thursday, March 14 in Brentwood, TN. He will be remembered as a gentleman and a gentle man.
A memorial Mass will occur on June 27, 2024 at St. Mary's Church, 95 North Main Street in Canandaigua, NY at 11 am and a lunch at the home of Kent and Liz Gilges at 120 North Pearl Street in Canandaigua from 12:30 to 2:30. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua.
Walter was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Wilhelm and Liesel Gilges. He grew up in the African bush in what he described as a perfect childhood. He received a law degree and BCL from Oxford University and a Master of Law from Yale Law School. In 1961, he began working as a visiting associate for Sullivan & Cromwell, a Wall Street law firm. There he met the love of his life, Patsy Mantz. They were married in 1963, moved back to Zambia, had their first child and then emigrated to New York City, where they had two more children. In 1970, Walter moved his family to Rochester and began managing international legal work for Eastman Kodak Co. He loved what he did, which included traveling all over the world and working with people from all different countries and cultures.
Walter was very active in the Rochester International Friendship Council, in which families "hosted" single students from other cultures and involved them in family events. He volunteered for Second Harvest and Habitat for Humanity, but his real love was serving his family. Walter always "wanted to be useful," which was another way of saying that he wanted to be of service to those around him.
Walter is survived by his sister Yvonne Colhoun (Andrew), his sister-in-law Cheryl Gilges, his son Kent Gilges (Elizabeth), his daughter Julie Martin (Steve), his son Keith Gilges (Carlyle), eight grandchildren Alexander (Rachel), Nicholas, Oliver, Hannah and Avery Gilges, Bryan, Chip, and Jennifer Martin and a foster-granddaughter Donata Uwiringiyimana. He was preceded in death by his wife Patsy in 2014, granddaughter Elie Gilges in 2004, and brother Ralph Gilges in 2024.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation in his honor may be made to Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee, 331 Great Circle Road, Nashville, TN 37228. Arrangements are by Johnson-Kennedy Funeral Home, Inc., Canandaigua. Condolences may be offered at www.johnsonkennedy.com.