Author: Duane Fickeisen

The Rev. David Gilmartin, 71, died unexpectedly March 12, 2012 in Eugene, OR. He earned his BA at Harvard University and his MDiv. at Starr King. He was a community minister and a social worker, who advocated for accessibility. He worked at the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, CA; at the Center for Independence of the Disabled in Belmont, CA; at Resources for Independent Living in Sacramento, CA. He worked at Ferry Beach UU Camp and Conference Center in Saco, ME; at New Horizons Independent Living Center in Prescott, AZ; at InfoUse in Berkeley, CA; and at the State of Arizona Child Protective Services. His colleague, Alicia Forsey, remembers him as a very positive person. She described him as kind, gentle and intelligent. She added that he had a memory “like a steel trap.” David enjoyed singing and playing the guitar. He was predeceased by his sister, Alice Gilmartin. He is survived by his brother Peter Gilmartin.

The Rev. Fred Gillis, parish minister, skilled liturgist, community activist, accomplished woodworker, and lover of the ourdoors, railways, organs and organ music, died, aged 72, on July 14, 2013 after a long battle with Lewy body disease.

Fred’s woodworking skill and passion for organ music were combined in designing and building his own organ as well as proudly helping with the design and construction of the organ at the Westminster Church in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, where he was settled for a twenty-six-year pastorate. When not pursuing his love of rail travel and building model trains, he could often be found hiking, kayaking and bird watching on camping trips with his family in Newark Pond, Vermont.

In his professional life, the Rev. Mr. Gillis was a 42-year member of the Greenfield Group and was formally granted “sainthood” in that oldest Unitarian (now UU) ministerial study group in North America. Widely respected for his interest in worship arts, he was a founding and active member of the Unitarian Universalist liturgical group, the Congregation of Abraxas and served for four years (1978-82) on the UUA’s Commission on Common Worship. His work in this area is recalled in these words (one of his two contributions to the UUA hymnal):

May the Love which overcomes all differences,
which heals all wounds,
which puts to flight all fears,
which reconciles all who are separated,
be in us and among us
now and always.
(Reading #694, Singing the Living Tradition)

Frederick Ellsworth Gillis was born in Cambridge, Mass, on December 12, 1940 to Raymond and Amy Mann Gillis. He was graduated with a B.S. from Tufts University in 1962 and an S.T.B from Harvard Divinity School in 1965.

Mr. Gillis was ordained to the ministry at the Channing Unitarian Church in Rockland, Mass., on April 24, 1966, where he served from 1965 to 1969. He went on to parish settlements at the UU Church of Halifax, Nova Scotia (1969-77) and the Westminster Unitarian Church of East Greenwich, Rhode Island (1977-2003), leaving the latter with the title of Minister Emeritus. He then moved on to interim ministries at UU churches in Rutland, Vermont (2003-04) and Peterborough, New Hampshire (2005-06), before final retirement.

During more than four decades in parish ministry, the Rev. Mr. Gillis was steadily active in many local community groups and the larger UU movement, serving as chair (1966-67) and board member (1971-73) of the Fair Housing and Human Rights Association in Rockland, Mass., Vice President (1972-73) of the Metro Area Family Planning Association in Halifax, Nova Scotia, , board member (1974-77) of the Canadian Unitarian Council, Vice President (1979) and President (1980-83) of the Memorial Society of Rhode Island. Later, he was elected Treasurer (1968), Vice President (1986-88), and President (1988-89) of the Ballou Channing Chapter of the UUMA and served on the Executive Board of the UUMA at large from 1989 to 1991.

Fred is survived by his wife, Judy Stewart Gillis of Concord, New Hampshire, and his former wife, Kate Gillis of West Warwick: Rhode Island, two sons: Andrew (spouse Karen), of Bedford, New Hampshire, and Duncan (spouse Vanessa) of Portland, Oregon; three step-daughters: Tracy Terry (spouse Marc) of Ashland, Mass., Gillian Edeus (spouse Leif) of Vevey, Switzerland, and Erin Stewart (spouse Jeff Fetter) of Concord, New Hampshire, and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, September 14, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at the Westminster Unitarian Church in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. An additional remembrance were included as part of Sunday morning worship on September 29, 10:30 am at the UU Church of Concord, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UUA Living Tradition Fund, P.O. Box 843154, Boston, Mass., 02284 or to Lewy Body Research, MGH Development Office, Attn: Shawn Fitzgibbons, 165 Cambridge St., Suite 600, Boston, Mass.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Judy Gillis at 6 Wildemere Terrace, Concord, New Hampshire 03301.

Yvonne Giles, 81, wife of Rev. Philip R. Giles of Harwich, MA, died Dec. 10, 2005. Among other churches, they had been together at Muncie, IN; and Denver, CO. While in Muncie, Yvonne was head of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) leading 1800 volunteers. Survivors include her husband; a son, Rev. Stephen Rhoades of Sandyville, WV; and a daughter, Dauna Hawkins of Weston, WV.

The Rev. Dr. Philip R. Giles, whose career spanned fifty-four years of distinguished service in parish ministry, denominational leadership, and armed forces chaplaincy, died on July 2, 2013, at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy, Illinois, aged 96.

Mr. Giles was especially energetic and influential in organizational work as the last General Superintendent of the Universalist Church of America (UCA) prior to its consolidation with the American Unitarian Association (AUA) in 1961. He later recalled that the Universalists were “wary of power and institutions,” and he set about to strengthen the UCA “so it could carry more of its weight in the merger.” Under his revitalizing program, Operation Bootstrap, some of the influence of independent state Universalist conventions was shifted to the national office, internal communication was improved, the UCA’s financial base was strengthened, ministerial pensions were increased, several congregations moved to new or renovated buildings, and publication was expanded. He saw these changes as essential for the future, whether for a self-sustaining UCA or in preparation for consolidation with the AUA. In the words of a family member,

“His commitment to the liberal religious movement mirrored his philosophy that each generation is responsible to help succeeding generations move forward. He always said, “Your generation doesn’t owe anything to mine. We hold you on our shoulders and you will do the same for your children.”

Philip Randall Giles was born in Haverhill, Mass. on January 23, 1917 to Nelson R. and Ina Butler Giles. He earned a B.A. from Tufts College and an S.T.B. from Crane Theological School, both in 1942, and later received honorary doctorates from Tufts and St. Lawrence University.

In 1939, during his student years at Tufts, Mr. Giles began parish ministry at the Universalist Church in Southbridge, Mass, where he was ordained by the Massachusetts Universalist Convention on May 10, 1942. Meanwhile, in June of 1941, he was married to Aurelie Proctor of Fayville, Mass. After ordination he entered the Army Air Corps as a chaplain, spending two years in New Guinea and several months in Tokyo during the occupation. Thereafter he joined the Air Force Reserves and was recalled to another stint (1951-53) of active military service as a wing chaplain at Connelly AFB in Waco, Texas, during the Korean conflict. His reserve chaplaincy status afforded him an instrumental role in the design of the spectacularly modernist Air Force Academy Chapel, completed in 1962 in Colorado Springs. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1977.

Returning to parish ministry after WWII, the Rev. Mr. Giles was settled at the White Memorial Universalist Church in Concord, New Hampshire from 1946 until 1949, when he joined the Universalist headquarters staff. There he served successively as director of fund-raising (Unified Appeal, 1949-51), assistant to the General Superintendent of the UCA (1953-1954), and then director of ministry and extension, before his own election as General Superintendent in 1957.

In 1961, having helped steer the final stages of UCA-AUA consolidation, Philip Giles served as UUA Vice President for Field Relations until 1963, then District Executive of the Joseph Priestly District, and returned to UUA headquarters as Vice President for Development (1970-74).

Resuming parish ministry, Dr. Giles was settled at the UU Church of Muncie, Indiana (1974-78), the First Universalist Church of Denver, Colorado (1978-82, where he was named Minister Emeritus in 1988), and the UU Church of Corpus Christi (1982-1983). He then embarked on a career in interim ministry, serving churches in Providence, Rhode Island (1983-84), Croydon, England (1984-85), Needham, Mass (1985-86), Melrose, Mass (1986), Middleboro, Mass (1987-88), Corpus Christi, Texas (winters of 1988-90), and Barnstable, Mass (1992-93).

Philip Giles came from a family of outdoor enthusiasts. He enjoyed camping, birding, fishing, and swimming. He and his family spent summers at various Universalist and Unitarian camps, institutes, and retreat centers around the country. He led workshops at Ferry Beach and Star Island in Maine, Camp Unirondack in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Bridgman on Lake Michigan, and the Rocky Mountain District summer institute at Estes Park, Colorado.

In a letter of sympathy to an old friend, Mr. Giles once wrote:
“I have never been able to bid adieu, even for a time, gracefully and easily. It has always been easier to take refuge in a casual “See you later.” But that won’t do now . . . I have often wished I could take comfort in the Christian myth of immortality. But my mind won’t permit it. My comfort has to be with those we leave behind—immortality enough for me—but it does not assuage the hurt, the grief, the loss when dear ones go on ahead. It’s a lonely business, made tolerable only by the evergreen memories and pride of having been the recipient of their trust and love and friendship.”

Philip Giles was preceded in death by his wife, Aurelie, and a brother, Paul, of Concord, New Hampshire. He is survived by two daughters, Lee Giles Hirstein of Schaumburg, Illinois, and Susan Giles Godsey of Nehalem, Oregon, two grandchildren, a great-grandchild, nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law.

Cremation rites were conducted for Dr. Giles. A memorial service was planned for a later date in St. Albans, Maine, site of the family cemetery since the 1760s.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Society for Ministerial Relief, c/o Glen Snowden, Secretary, 34 Meeting House Ln #201, Stow, Mass 01775.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Lee Giles Hirstein at 2442 Charleston Drive, #6, Schaumburg, Illinois 60193; or Susan Giles Godsey at P.O. Box 128, Nehalem, Oregon 97131.

Judith Patterson Gilbert, 64, the wife of the Rev. John Gilbert, died April 2, 2010 in hospice care in Huntersville, NC after an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She earned a degree in computer sciences from University of North Carolina, Charlotte. She was an MCSP (Microsoft Certified Support Professional). She was also an ardent Democrat. She was committed to CASA. She will be remembered as a founder and principal of High Tech Computing, Inc. The company, which was one of her passions, provides support for Microsoft Office products and exchange servers. Judith is survived by her husband and three sons: Houston, Toby, and Christopher Patterson, two daughters-in-law and two granddaughters.

Those who knew her remember her lovely ways and support. Notes of remembrance may go to her sister: Lynn Sebbard, 226 Norwich Ct., Madison, NJ, 07940.

Gertrud “Trudi” Linsenmair Gelsey, wife of The Rev. Rudolf  “Rudi” Gelsey, died March 28, 2003. The Gelseys were members of the Williamsburg, VA church at the time of her death. They served churches in Philadelphia, PA; Mt. Kisco, NY; Detroit, MI; Niagara Falls, NY; and Blacksburg, VA.

The Rev. Dr. Diether Gehrmann, 77, died August 23, 2006. He served at Frei-religiose Gemeinde, Jugend, Germany and First Unitarian Society of Rockland County, NY. Dick Boeke writes: “Diether was a German born UU Minister. In 1969, he became the first full time General Secretary of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). As major new religious groups such as the Rissho Kosei Kai in Japan joined, Diether established a new IARF office in Frankfurt, Germany. Lucy Meier of Holland worked with him to create an effective IARF Social Service network. The IARF Commissions brought a world dialogue to IARF Congresses. Diether’s dedication helped make the IARF a leading International Interfaith Organization” Diether is survived by his wife Dorothee Gehrmann, and his four children The Rev. Ronald, Rainer, Derek and the Rev. Axel Gehrmann.

Isabel A. Gehr, 99, the widow of the Rev. Harmon M. Gehr, died October 7, 2013. The Gehrs served the Throop UU Church in Pasadena, CA for 19 years.

Her daughter, Julia Nelson, reflected on her mother’s sense of adventure. “She was fearless, whether it was speaking out on an issue, camping alone or trying a new recipe. She passed on to her children the idea that they could do anything they set out to do.”

Isabel spent the end of her life in Portland, Oregon with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had a constant stream of company.  Julia said, “She didn’t have a single meal alone once she was there. She knew she was not going to last ‘til her 100th birthday. And she also knew that she’d not see all of her beloved possessions again and she just let it go, so she could relax and enjoy the family and the love surrounding her. She said goodbye to us all and told us not to worry about her, but also to remember her when she was young and vibrant and strong, not old and infirm. She remained alert and cheerful until she took her last breath.”

Julia recalled that Isabel told her family many times that when she and her husband were camping in Canyon de Chelley in Chinle, AZ, she had a vision of a large white bear who told her that everything would be all right. She kept a small plush polar bear with her all the time she was in Portland. Julia said, “The bear is with her now, next to her blue urn. At our Christmas gathering we will share memories, with all of us present. In the spring her ashes will be scattered on her son Elliott’s land in Eugene, near her husband and daughter, as she requested.”

She continued, “Thanks to everyone who admired, respected and loved her. She was a strong and unique person and we all feel lucky to have had her around for almost 100 years!”

There was a memorial service to celebrate her life on Nov. 23 at Throop UU Church, in Pasadena. Notes of condolence may go to her daughter: Julia Nelson, 85710 Doane Rd., Eugene, OR 97402.

Averill Virginia Fox Gay, 90, wife of the Rev. Richard R. Gay, died quietly Jan. 24, 2011, at Providence Palliative Care in Anchorage. A native of Cornwall, PA, she was a graduate of Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. There she met and married Richard on Christmas day, 1943. She held various teaching positions in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Then the family relocated to Alaska, where her husband served as minister, professor and administrator at Alaska Methodist University. Wherever they lived, Averill played organ, directed choirs and taught piano. In Anchorage, she was organist and choir director at Turnagain Methodist Church, then co-organist at First Presbyterian Church for 17 years. Her beautiful smile and gracious personality made her many friends, and her husband of 67 years was her greatest fan. Her family wrote: “These sentiments are most apt: Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts her. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for she looks well to the ways of her household. Her children rise up and call her blessed! And her name is Averill.” In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters Judith, Patricia, Sherry, Jerilee and their husbands; and her son, Richard III, as well as are 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother.