Gordon Gillespie Obituary

I think of Coach Gillespie often; and will be eternally grateful for him being a part of my life. There will never be another Coach Gillespie and I was blessed to have him in my life.
Joe Falese

I will be forever grateful for the tremendous impact Coach Gillespie had on my life. So much that I have accomplished in my life is owed to him. He was the best coach and mentor ever.
But perhaps most important was how he taught us to respect the game, our teammates and the opposition. How to be a good person and make a difference in whatever we do and wherever we live.

Wrote to you 6 years ago after he passed, and just looked again at the precious memories people had of him, amen. Gordon is now 92 as of Oct. 1.2021 Here's a photo of his 90th birthday!! Plus, I have longer hair now, and am 83. Love from us!!

Dear Family & Friends, Gordon(Gordie) Gillespie was so kind to my brothers Bob & Mike during high-school our dad died and they needed that extra kindness only certain few could have strength for, Gordie HAD that strength as he´s touched so many lives! Thank you!

I think often about Coach Gillespie; and always do with abundant gratitude for his presence in my life and for the impact he made on me that will last forever!
In my prayers today, I will give thanks to God for the life and legacy of Coach Gillespie. I will also pray for the entire Gillespie family as you honor his memory and celebrate his life.

Your wisdom and lessons learned carry me through this day and all days, R I P GORDIE .

Perseverance a lesson Gordie helped install in e I've never forgotten. Miss you RIP Gordie.

I think of Coach Gillespie often, and continue to be extremely grateful for the impact he had on my life in so many ways. He was the Mentor of all Mentors; and there are countless of us who are better people because of Coach Gillespie. I will say an extra prayer today for Coach and his entire family.
Joe Falese
Lewis, class of 1978.

It sure does not seem like 4 years has passed since we lost Coach Gillespie. I think of Coach on a regular basis as his impact on my personal and professional life was extraordinary! I know I speak for many when I reflect back with profound gratitude for having Coach as a part of my life.
I continue to keep the Gillespie family in my thoughts and prayers.

Coach was a mentor as well as a friend. I met him back in the 1980s through another friend who just passed away as well. I attended several of his clinics and still own his instructional video series, which I just had converted to DVD from VHS. What a great man. He's influenced so many people in his life. I guess God needed someone to coach His team.

Coach
My entire career I hold to you rest now in the Hands of God
Lewis class of 75

If I was to nickname Gordie I would call him "Mr Motivator". What a great guy. Farewell Sir. Joe Beno...

Our Sympathy to Gordy's wife and all family members in the loss of such a honest and wise man, let alone his outstanding coaching abililty over quite a few decades!!
Gordon & Caryl Johnson

To The Gordon Gillespie Family. Sorry For Your Loss. Respectfully Yours, The Gary Darin Family

My Father was George C. Leddy. His very best friends from his early days to his passing were Peter Coorlas and Gordie Gillespie. I knew Gordie as "Uncle Gordie". Our families spent a great amount of time together in our younger years. We did not have any blood Uncles, so Uncle Pete and Uncle Gordie played that roll in our lives, and as my siblings would attest, were indeed family. All of the Coorlas's, Gillespie's and Leddy's felt like first cousins. I spent time with Gordie in my days at Lewis. I would head over to his AD office and just sit and talk to him. He would just reminisce about the days when they were younger and like brothers. I would just listen and take it in, only to hope that I was lucky enough to find friends like that at some point in my life. Uncle Gordie is with my Dad now. I really feel for my Uncle Pete Coorlas, and can't imagine the loss he is feeling. The positive influence on everyone who came to know Gordie will be sorely missed.

Gordie Gillespie was a sport icon representing all of Will County, especially Joliet. He was successful in Football, Basketball & Baseball. He touched many lives on a positive note. Condolences to the Gillespie family

to the greatest coach in Joliet History a man I wish i could played for best wishes to all his family and friends Darrell McFarland

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. He was a wonderful person and coach. The Ernie Cimo family.

Absolutely one of the finest coaches/mentors I've ever ran across. Humble and endearing in his methods. Rest in peace Coach. Condolences to the family.

All my prayers to the family in the passing of ,to me , this giant of a man. First coached by Gordie when I was about 8 and subsequently later at "the Hill". I'm 60 now and have forever cherished and thankful for the guidance and lessons learned from a true Icon "Gordie" I was blessed to have in my life. I still have the kind words of encouragement in letters he sent to me while in my experiences in college. May God love forever, The Coach.
Al Waznis

We were going through some papers and found one of Gordie's hand-written notes. He touched so many lives in this community. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Kathie and Mike Hennessy
Joliet, Illinois

To the Gillespie Family,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all. The life of this remarkable man touched so many lives.
Larry and Maxine Weinbrod
Three Lakes, Wisconsin

To Billy and Mike and the rest of the Gillespie family, sincere condolences from the Bogdan family. When I was covering one of your dad's games, I always looked forward to a great interview following the game. At Lewis, there was always a smile and a handshake. Class act all the way.
Dave Bogdan

Thanks for sharing him with all of us

My deepest sympathy to the entire Gillespie family. I am a better person today having known and influenced by Coach. I will keep him and his family in my prayers. Joe Zdziarski Lewis University 1974

my sincere sympathy to the entire gillespie family gordie always greeted by name and made you feel ifyou were the only person in the room.

Thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Gillespie family. Please find some comfort during this difficult time in knowing how many lives Gordie touched and how many people he helped. He cared about everyone and treated those who were "on the bench" with as much respect as the big name stars. It was my honor to know him and to call him a friend. Rest In Peace Gordie and may God watch over you and your family. We will see you on the other side Coach!

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Bob, Mike,Greg,Gordy, Billy, Meg, my heart felt sympathy in your loss. I have a lot of good memories of your Dad and all of you. Love, Arlene Benigni

My deep sympathy to Mike and his family. Your father was a great man and teacher. He certainly had a great impact on me as a young man. May he rest in peace. Brian Kocsis JCH Class of 1969

To the entire Gillespie family,
my deepest sympathies to you on the passing of Coach Gordie Gillespie. It is extremely difficult to express in a few short words or sentences the HUGE impact Coach had on so many people. I think the best way to capture what he meant to so many of us is this:there will NEVER be another one like him!We may have lost this true legend, but trust me, his true legacy will live on forever. There are so many people that have benefitted tremendously from Coach's mentoring and he taught us all so well. There are so many of us out there doing Gordie's work and this will continue.We will all miss him tremendously, but how honored and blessed I am to have had him in my life.
May God bless Gordie and his entire family.
Joe Falese
Lewis University
Class of 1978

To the entire Gillespie Family,
It is very difficult in a few short words or sentences to capture the true impact Gordie/Coach had on so many people. I think the best way to sum it up is: There will Never be another one like him!! We may have lost a true legend; but trust me, his legacy will live on forever! He taught us all so well and so many people that he mentored over the years are out there doing Gordie's work.We will all miss him tremendously; however how honored and blessed I am to have had him in my life.
Joe Falese
Lewis University, class of 1978

My sympathy to his family and highest regard for Gordie.
Karen Kietzman

I'm very sorry for your loss. Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead, and loving memories to forever hold in your hands. May God to comfort your family (Psalm 9:9,10).

extra nice person the best to me!

My Deepest Sympathy, you are all so blessed to have had him in your life. May he rest in Peace, till we see him again.

Much respect and admiration. Condolences to the family.

May he rest in peace..He was one of the best coaches in the world..and one of the nicest men we have ever known

The last time we saw Gordie he told my dad something like, John, can you believe it? We raised all these kids! And I will forever remember his loving kindness - and the many opportunities he gave JCHS to celebrate the joy of sports.

JOAN GORDIE IS AT PEACE... HE TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES WITH LASTING MEMORIES AND FRIENDSHIPS......I CONSIDERED HIM A FRIEND LIKE SO MANY THOUSANDS.........MY SYMPATHY... KEVIN REARDON