Obituary of Donald McLeod Gillis

Donald McLeod Gillis, B.A., L.C.B., D.C.L. (Hon), Q.C., Major (Ret.)- After a long and distinguished legal career, the "Dean of New Brunswick Lawyers" passed away at the Saint John Regional Hospital on March 26, 2006, after a brief illness. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Waneta; four children, Rodney (m. Judy Berry) of Saint John; Tom (m. Annette Tucker) of Calgary; Susan (m. Richard Adams) of Montreal and Cathy (m. John Connors) of Napanee; eleven grandchildren Stacy (m. Andrew Shail), Carey, John (m. Johanna Cunningham), Alan, Trevor (m. Hadas Pade), Megan, Craig, Allison, Ryan, Leigh and Blake and two great-granddaughters, Anna and Em. Born in Williamstown, Carleton County, New Brunswick in 1916, he was the son of the late John and Margaret (McLeod) Gillis of Watertown and is pre-deceased by his sister Jean Webb of Centreville. Don graduated from Acadia University in 1937. Between 1939 and 1943, he had a distinguished military career serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery, 14th Battalion Infantry Division. In 1945, he was awarded the Military Cross by King George VI for bravery under enemy fire. He graduated from University of New Brunswick Law School in 1946 and was subsequently admitted to the New Brunswick Bar. Appointed a Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) in 1958, he practiced law as senior partner of the Saint John firm of Gilbert, McGloan and Gillis for 60 years up until his 90th birthday. He enjoyed provincial, national and international renown as a brilliant lawyer and as one of the outstanding litigators in New Brunswick's legal history. He was inducted into the Acadia University Sports Hall of Fame in 1993; served as a President of the New Brunswick Law Society and of the Saint John Law Society; served as President of the Westfield Golf and Country Club; was a Member of the American College of Trial Lawyers; and a Master of the Supreme Court. In 2003 he received both an Honourary Doctor of Civil Laws from Acadia University and the Ilsa Greenblatt-Shore distinguished graduate award from the University of New Brunswick Law School. Athlete, soldier, lawyer, educator, mentor, leader, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, his legacy lives on with those who had the privilege to share experiences with this exceptional individual. Visitation will occur at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506-634-7424) on Thursday and Friday, March 30 & 31; 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. A funeral service will be held at Germain Street Baptist Church, 228 Germain Street at 1 pm, Saturday, April 1, 2006. A private internment with immediate family will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Palliative Care Unit of the Saint John Regional Hospital. The Donald M. Gillis Scholarship will be established at the University of New Brunswick Law School.