Obituary of Gerald S. Gilligan

Gerald S. Gilligan, 86, of Darien, died on January 16th at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The cause of death was a ruptured aortic aneurysm. The son of Michael Gilligan and Delia Consedine, he was born in Beverly, MA on March 28, 1919. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Madeline, four daughters: Judy Gilligan and Janet Soressi of Boulder, CO and Kathleen Mannherz and Maureen Wolin of Sudbury, MA, and three sons: Dr. Kendall Gilligan of Waynesville, NC, Michael Gilligan of Ann Arbor, MI, and Patrick Gilligan of Woodbury, CT. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren, three nieces, and four nephews. His brothers Joseph and Thomas Gilligan predeceased him. Mr. Gilligan graduated from Beverly High School as class valedictorian. He went on to Harvard College where he was a contributor to the Harvard Lampoon and earned a B.S. in Geological Sciences in 1941. He also received a Masters degree in Journalism from Stanford University in 1947. Following his graduation from Harvard, he entered the U.S. Army in 1942 as a second lieutenant in the field artillery. He served three and a half years in World War II during which he was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines. As a Major, he was in charge of civil affairs for the Northern half of Luzon Island and awarded the Bronze Star. Mr. Gilligan began his forest products industry career at the Stanford Research Institute as a Senior Economist where he published, “The Economic Effects of Bombing in World War II” and “America’s Demand for Wood”. He spent the next 13 years in senior management positions at St. Regis Paper Company, MacMillen Bloedel Ltd., and The Brown Company. In 1970, he founded his own forest products consulting firm, Gerald S. Gilligan and Associates where he conducted paper mill feasibility studies, timberland appraisals, marketing studies, and published, “A Price Guide for Buying and Selling Rural Acreage”. He was known for his humor and creative writing skills. Following his retirement in 1992, he contributed humorous articles to the Darien Times under the byline, “Gilligan’s Episodes”. He was active in the Darien Senior Men’s Association where he served as Secretary and Vice President. Funeral services will be held this Saturday, January 21, 2006 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1864 Post Road in Darien at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien. Calling hours will be on Friday, January 20, 2006 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road in Darien. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Salvation Army, 432 Fairfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820