Peter M. Gillespie, age 81, a former resident of Glen Ellyn, IL, died Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at Michealsen Health Care Center in Batavia, IL. He was born January 5, 1937 in New Haven, CT., to James W. and Lois A. (Martin) Gillespie. Peter was an only child preceded in death by his mother when he was two years of age; he was raised by his father and paternal grandparents for most of his youth. He was an altar server as a young lad at St. Margaret Church in Madison, CT. Peter's father James remarried Ruth B. Abbott and the family relocated to Florida.

Peter "Pete" grew up in Hollywood, Florida. He attended Broward High School, where he was an excellent student and played football and baseball for the Bulldogs. Pete was Co-captain of the football team, served one year as President of the student council and President of the National Honor Society. Pete was voted Best All-Around for Broward High Senior Superlatives. Peter attended the University of Florida, where he obtained a B.S. in Business Administration. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity.

Pete met his future wife, Virginia "Ginny" Hanley, a transplanted New Yorker, on the beach in Hollywood, FL. She said he made the first move. They both attended UF, and following marriage, August 1, 1959, Peter served in the U.S. Navy. Pete attended U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was then stationed in Norfolk, VA, where they began their family. Following 4 years in the Navy, Peter took a job with Sears Roebuck & Company. They lived along the East Coast of the U.S. in the early days of their married life, VA, CT, MA. Their family expanded to include five children and in 1973, with a job transfer to work in the newly-built Sears Tower, they settled in Glen Ellyn, where they lived for over 40 years.

He was a loving, caring, loyal, supportive, proud, friendly, and hard-working man who in the words of his sister, Kathy, was "never without a smile" and who "never met a stranger". All were welcome, always, with Peter. Pete was an avid golfer, holding a Sunday tee-time at the Village Links of Glen Ellyn for many years. Golf highlights: a hole-in-one at the Links and getting to play on the Augusta National course, albeit it poured and he was unable to finish his round. Later in his retirement he worked as a starter on the 9-hole course at the Links, a dream job for sure! Being on the course with fellow golfers brought him great joy; sharing in golf and friendship with everyone he met. He sought out the connections between people and was certain to share with you when he had met a friend.

He enjoyed telling and hearing a good story or joke, was master of his gas grill and picked the best birthday (or other occasion) cards - occasions which he never missed for those who came into his life. He will be missed greatly and fondly remembered as "one of the good ones" - always.

Pete was a sports enthusiast, he followed all the golf tournaments on t.v., the Bears, the Cubs, the Blackhawks, college basketball (always checking in on your bracket) and his beloved Gators.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia; four daughters, Sue Crispin, Anne (Jeff) DiSandro, Kathy Gillespie and Maureen (Dar) Samsami; 11 grandchildren, Shannon Gillespie, Michael Crispin, Shelley (Matt) Andrews, Kyle DiSandro, Nicole DiSandro, Lauren DiSandro, Emma Samsami, Ian Samsami, Eamon Samsami, Eleanor Samsami and Seamus Samsami; four great-grandchildren, Austin and Caleb Lesniak, and Grayson and Elton Gillespie; his sister, Kathy (Bob) Seagraves; and his brothers-in-law, John (Gabriela) Hanley, Bob (Barbara) Hanley, Frank (Anne) Hanley and Kevin (Dorene) Hanley as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Jim ("Jimmy") Gillespie.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL where prayers will be said on Monday, December 3, at 9:00 a.m. A funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 a.m. at St. Petronille Catholic Church , 420 Glenwood Ave, in Glen Ellyn. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be directed to the American Heart Association , 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674; or to the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital , 5000 South 5th Avenue, Hines, IL 60141.