Mr Thomas E. Gillman

Bantam - Thomas Edwin Gillman passed away surrounded by his loving family at home April 25, 2023.

He was born in Thomaston, April 3, 1936, to beloved mother Marion “Peg” Gillman and father Edwin Gillman. While known as Grumpy to many, he was anything but. He was a determined, generous, kind, gentle, and loving man. Also, a man known for having nine lives and used them all. When diagnosed with Parkinson’s he decided he just didn’t have it and went on living life that way, until the day he finally sub come to a combination of a broken hip and Parkinson’s disease.

Always a good and inquisitive kid, he grew to be a fixer of all things broken. He served into the US army during the Berlin airlift and Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. He studied engineering at Indiana Institute of Technology where he met his devoted wife Diane, to whom he was married for almost 59 years. Tom had a 30+-year teaching career at Shepaug Valley Regional High School in Washington Depot CT, where he taught industrial arts and driver’s education- which contributed to many of his gray hairs. For all his students he passed on a passion for hard work, honesty, and respect for others.

Tom leaves behind his wife Diane, son Gary Gillman and daughter-in-law Connie of Litchfield and their two daughters Lilly and Charlotte, his daughter, Geva Gillman Lester and son-in-law Matthew of Arlington, Virginia, and their children Thomas and Nora. Also, his ½ sister Myra Majeski and brothers-in-law Dan Frump and David Frump, as close to him as any brother.

Tom will be remembered by the many people whose lives he touched, but he will be remembered most for his life that was well lived. He made the world a better place. His legacy of love, joy, and humor will forever be remembered by the lives he touched. He was deeply loved and will never be forgotten.

Join us in celebrating a life well lived on Saturday, June 24 at 2pm for a graveside service at Hillside Cemetery 1 Marine St. Thomaston. Immediately following, let’s give Tom an appropriate send off at a Celebrate of Life 4pm at the Bantam Firehouse 92 Doyle Rd, Bantam, CT 06750 (black attire not necessary).