Celebration of Life
David Michael Gill
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David Michael Gill of Greenland New Hampshire passed peacefully at age 61. He left this world just as he would have wanted to: surrounded by loved ones and good music.
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When asked how he wants to be remembered, he responded “As a hard-core, down-to-Earth giver who cared about others and liked people.” This statement couldn’t be more true, and truly captures his essence.
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His legacy is survived by his sisters Cathy Gill and partner Janine Moreau, Susan Gill and partner Darren Scott and their children Tyrone, Trey, and Tiana Scott, his beloved brother Michael Gill and partner Kathleen Gill, the love of his life Myong Gill, and most of all to his two children Christina and James Gill, of whom he loved and protected fiercely.
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To his family, he was and will remain a pillar of strength. To all, he will be remembered as a man with a huge heart.
HOOAH.
The ceremony will be held at Prospect Hill, Greenland Cemetery at 10 AM Saturday,
the 13th of April, 2019.
99-67 Cemetery Ln
Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, 03840 USA
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Flowers can be sent to Renick and Gendron Funeral Home, or please consider donating to a cause close to David's heart. (information below)
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Obituary lovingly written by daughter, Christina Gill
David Michael Gill of Greenland New Hampshire passed peacefully at age 61. He left this world just as he would have wanted to: surrounded by loved ones and good music. When asked how he wants to be remembered, he responded “As a hard-core, down-to-Earth giver who cared about others and liked people.” This statement couldn’t be more true, and truly captures his essence.
David was hard-core. He always put his best effort into achieving anything he put his mind to. When he decided that he wanted or would do something, he did it. He married the love of his life, Myong, by being the only American Soldier in South Korea able to beat her in a ping-pong match. It also didn’t hurt that he was a handsome ginger-haired fellow with kind brown eyes, a charming smile, and warm personality.
In the Army, David defiantly marched through the ranks and became a Colonel working as the Deputy Commander East for the 2nd Recruiting Brigade of the United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). Through his efforts, he became a memorable leader and trusted decision maker while also inspiring those around him to fulfill their true potential. He was a firm believer in the seven Army values, LDRSHIP: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, he bravely battled it and won. Although his recovery was a challenge, David not only accepted it but woke up each day with an absolute zeal ready to “kick cancer’s ass!” His positive attitude that he continuously chose to put towards his process provided him the opportunity to become an advocate for Be The Match, a national marrow donor program, where he provided council, motivation, and optimism for those undergoing a similar diagnosis to his own.
David was down to Earth. He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and the beauty of nature. He was an avid brook trout fisherman, a hunter, and a lover of wildlife. He loved his backyard deer and turkey “pets” as he called them. He also loved his fur-child, a black Maine Coon cat, Hooah named after David’s favorite Army expression meaning “anything and everything except no.” The house he built for himself was handcrafted with love from the hard work of those who appreciated David and his ability to connect meaningfully to others as well as nature on a deeper level. It was rare for someone to be so involved with building their own home with their own hands and to develop a true friendship with the craftsmen who helped bring his dream alive. It was even more rare for him to be accepted into their lives and community; however, those that knew him, know that his energy was boundless and infectious. It wasn’t hard to like a guy like David.
David genuinely liked people. He enjoyed getting to know a person for who they were and judged no one; unless it was the unfortunate telemarketer or scam caller that needed to learn some LDRSHIP values. David had a big heart and served as a volunteer for different projects around the Greenland area that he felt passionate about. He served on the Greenland Cemetery Committee and became close friends with the board members including all of the folks who worked at the Greenland Town hall. He also volunteered his time to help serve and connect to other veterans in the local area. Whether in his career or in his personal life, David was a known to be a good judge of character and was often willing to help those who needed a bright light to guide their way. David frequently welcomed guests into his home with open arms and delicious food that he prepared himself with love; these gatherings were one of his many ways of enjoying and sharing a special moment with someone – and let it be known, he had many special and beloved moments with many people.
David lived life to the fullest. He was one of those “glass half full” kind of guys and always took the opportunity to find the silver lining in any situation. In fact, he was stubbornly optimistic so much so that it was impossible for him give up on a task, dream, or vision; especially if he felt that what he was championing for was for the right reasons. His selflessness and giving nature was an inspiration to all that knew him. Most of all he gave himself full-heartedly to his family who continue to survive his legacy: his sisters Cathy Gill and partner Janine Moreau, Susan Gill and partner Darren Scott as well as their children Tyrone, Trey, and Tiana Scott, his beloved brother Michael Gill and partner Kathleen Gill, the love of his life Myong Gill, and most of all to his two children Christina and James Gill, of whom he loved and protected fiercely. To his family, he was and will remain a pillar of strength. To all, he will be remembered as a man with a huge heart. HOOAH.
The ceremony to celebrate David's life will be held at Prospect Hill, Greenland Cemetery at 10 AM Saturday, the 13th of April.
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David was a cheerful man, full of light and love. Feel free to wear color to reflect his spirit.
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Address for ceremony at Prospect Hill Cemetery: 99-67 Cemetery Ln Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, 03840 USA
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Flowers and donations are accepted and appreciated. Information on where to send flowers, or how to best donate in David's name can be found below.
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Flowers & Donations
Your love, prayers, and support are most important to the family; however, for those that would like to send flowers or donate toward David's name here is information in order to do so:
Flowers:
If you would like to send flowers then they can be sent to Renick and Gendron Funeral Home (811 Lafayette Road Hampton, NH 03842) who will deliver them to the graveside service
Donations:
If you would like to donate in David's name then please consider giving to an organization that meant the world to him. Below are four organizations that David himself donated his time or money to, as well as the institutions that helped him throughout his battles.
Below are four links to donate in David's name.
Important Organizations to David Gill:
Eulogy for David Gill
by daughter Christina Gill
4.13.19
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My father was one for theatrics. He once told me that “sometimes theatrics can go a long way to get a message across to the masses.” He was always for the underdog, and he wasn’t scared to push against authority to achieve transformation for his team.
You always wanted to be on team Gill.
What you might not have known, is that my dad is actually Batman. We all know that Batman is someone who stood up for the people.
He is strong, protective, willing to stand up for the little guy. He is fiercely loyal, optimistic, compassionate, and strategic.
He is someone that is willing to be perceived as the bad guy even if it means pushing that “someone” or the “world” closer to becoming the good guy. This is my dad.
He was unapologetically determined to push past boundaries to transform circumstances, whether that meant defeating cancer, having children with the women of his dreams, Myong, or living with a cat he desperately loved but was very allergic to.
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When dad did or wanted something, he did it with his whole being. He even named his cat Hooah which is an Army term meaning “absolutely and everything but no”...“ Just keep moving forward”, he would say, “move forward and you will overcome whatever is in front of you”. “Just do it!”
Like batman, my father had a double life: one as my dad in civilian clothes, and another in a uniform I have only come to recently understand the importance of. Whether you know him as your Army family, your blood family, or just a friend, I can almost guarantee he helped to make you a better person. I know that because he made me a better person. What the movies might not have always shown you is how a humorous man could hide behind his own discipline.
His humor is echoed in stories he took the pride to hand-write for my brother and me, one in particular that told the story of how his battalion nicknamed him “The Terminator” while stationed South Korea.
He acquired this nickname by, and I quote, “unloading an arsenal of ass chewing” onto a disruptive, lazy, and unmotivated soldier who was on the “thin edge of the wedge of serious consequences.” In short, it led to positive transformation. In the story, he wrote about how he came into this name. He said the following:
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“Shaking like a leaf in front of me, I let loose with final salvo telling him that if he ever came back to my office I would TERMINATE his money, TERMINATE his rank, TERMINATE his time and if it was bad enough, TERMINATE his ass out of of the United states Army. I then directed him to get out of my office and go to work. A few days later I was in Battalion Headquarters making my rounds and the Battalion Commander called me into his office. He asked if I knew the name that the soldiers had bestowed upon me. As usual, I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about and replied “no.” My Battalion Commander retold the story and said that the soldier went back to the Battery to promise his peers and superiors that he was going to change and that he never wanted to go see “The Terminator” ever again.”
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My father left that meeting with mixed feelings because he never wanted to hurt anyone, but rather intended to help them reach their full potential. The thought didn’t last long, however. The soldier in question changed his actions and became a productive member of his section. Meanwhile, my father’s battery claimed the word TERMINATOR as their own as and as a word they rallied and stood behind. Since then, every time he heard the other soldiers mutter “The Terminator is coming,” he couldn’t help but smile large and think, “This is just too much, my God, this is just too funny.”
My Dad may have worn the uniform, had a twisted sense of humor, and would chew you out but he never took himself too seriously.
Dad, always believed that hard work achieved dreams, but most of all he believed in people. He spent his life building people up. He choose to empower people to be their own heros. In the midst of his own battles, he found the time to inspire not only his own children but their friends, and even strangers.
He believed that community is built on giving and loving one other in a non-judgmental way. He reflected these beliefs in his many volunteering positions of which he came to love and was embraced by his local community.
Many of you may know my Dad from his volunteer work with local veterans, the cemetery committee, or the Towns Halls folk. My dad certainly held each of these organizations and the people he served, as well as worked with, very close to his heart.
He spent the last few years of his life hand-building his dream home with his dear friends and craftsmen. He also built his dream home with beloved brother, Michael, who shared his passion for wildlife and nature. And like the construction of his home, in which he fortified with love, passion, and attention to detail, he built his life to mirror his intentions of love, passion, and pride that he gave freely to others.
Most of all, his dream house truly reflects the constitution of his soul. It in many ways, the material legacy he leaves us to remind us to dream, to love, to create a life worth living.
My father was known as a leader, not just in the Army but also in the home. He raised me and my brother, James, with LDRSHIP values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage .... and an infinite amount of love.
Above all, he was a family man who fiercely loved and protected my brother, mother, and me. He was a man who deeply loved his parents Doris and Earl -- and his siblings, Cathy, Michael, and Susan. He was always someone who could be depended on to be there if there was ever was a time of need.
David Gill could be called Batman; he has been called The Terminator. To me, he will always be Dad, the man who taught me how to unapologetically be me, to love others with everything I have, and most of all to take life in stride with a good tune to get you through.
So, If ever you are in a moment of doubt, or against all odds, I’d like you remember to be “Strong like David” and say to yourself: “I will overcome this” or to simply “keep moving forward with a smile on your face”.
Dad was a pillar of strength, not just for me and his family, but for his community and for those he truly appreciated, cared about, and loved .
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Hooah!
Christina M. Gill
