Thomas Joseph "Tom" Gilligan III

Thomas Joseph “Tom” Gilligan III of Mentor, OH died on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at age 72 in Parma, OH after a long illness. He was born in 1945 in Great Barrington, MA to Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Gilligan Jr., and was the eldest of 9 children. He was a car guy in high school and very proud of his Pontiac GTO and working in the pit crew of the “200”, which raced at Lebanon Valley Speedway. In college, he worked one summer driving cement trucks so he could read and study while waiting in line. His love of reading and learning continued throughout his life. He graduated with a bachelor’s of chemistry from College of the Holy Cross in 1967, and received a Masters and PhD from Yale University in electrochemistry in 1972. While a fellow at the University of Oklahoma, he met Connie Carole McCrory and married her in 1973 in Little Rock, Arkansas. They moved to Switzerland while he was a fellow at the Max Planck Institute at the University of Basel. Returning to the US, they had two daughters and settled in Lake County, Ohio where he started working for Diamond Shamrock as a Sr. Research Chemist. He retired from Eltech Systems Corporation in 2000 as Vice President of Emerging Business and CTO, having collaborated on teams that were awarded five US patents and more than 50 patents in other countries, mostly in the field of electrochemistry. After his first retirement, he became an Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University and started the GC Group, a consulting firm. Tom believed in giving back to the community, volunteering as a science fair judge and on the Board of the Northeast Ohio Scouting for the Boy Scouts. He was a wonderful husband and father who enjoyed cooking for his family. He made the best Thanksgiving dinners and apple pie. Enjoying traveling and studying other countries, Tom and Carole made many trips to Europe and Asia. Every summer he took the family on vacations to the beach and to Cedar Point to ride roller coasters. These were a favorite because of the special times with his daughters. He loved sports--rooting for the Indians and Cavs. Tom was definitely not a fair weather fan. Tom’s frequent trips to the Cleveland Art Museum, Symphony and Botanical Gardens were shared enthusiastically with family. “Papa Tom’s” grandchildren were a delight to him especially at Christmas when decorating cookies for Santa. He is survived by his wife, Connie Carole Gilligan of Mentor, OH, daughters Heather Gilligan of Houston, TX and Megan Tillman (Christopher) of Sagamore Hills, OH, grandchildren Brandon and Lauren, siblings Michele Gilligan (Les Ettlinger) of Great Barrington, MA, Peter Gilligan (Lynn Smiley) of Chapel Hill, NC, Susan Lucy (Robert) of Fallbrook, CA, Ann Gilligan (Steve Seitz) of Swarthmore, PA, Jane Gilligan (Don Ritcher) of Lenox, MA, Paul Gilligan (Joyce Fitzpatrick) of Northborough, MA, Hannah Gilligan of Arlington, MA and Michael Gilligan (Elizabeth) of Durham, NC and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents Thomas J. Gilligan Jr. and Mary Hassett Gilligan. The family is grateful for his caregivers at Pleasant Lake Villa and Western Reserve Hospice. A wake will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 3-5 PM at The Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060. The funeral will be held on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 10 AM at St. Gabriel Church 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor, OH 44060 followed by burial at All Saints Cemetery, 480 W. Highland Rd, Northfield, OH 44067. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boy Scouts of America Northeast Ohio Scouting 2241 Woodland Run, Cleveland, OH 44115 or http://councils.scouting.org/council440 in memory of his service to the organization. Offer condolences at www.Brunners.com

Thomas Joseph "Tom" Gilligan III

April 7, 1945 - April 27, 2017