I was recently afforded the distinct honor of creating an obituary for my grandfather-in-law, Harold Gillilan. I had the privilege of knowing Harold for 12 years - just a small portion of his life but a fair chunk of mine.
Projects like these are intensely personal and, thus, also my favorite. My work motto with client bio's: "If they don't sob, I'm not doin' my job." That, of course, applied to this piece more than most others. Without further ado, I bring you Harold, in all of his 93-year old glory.
In his 93 years on this earth, Harold Gillilan was never bored a single day. Before the age of YouTube and the World Wide Web, he taught himself to pick a mean banjo and strum a guitar to the tunes of Hank Williams and Bill Monroe. Tall, lean, and athletic, he was once a local legend at the Santa Barbara skating rink, his broad smile lighting up the floor. He was built for speed and born with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and adventure. These pursuits shaped the rest of his extraordinary life and gave him enough hair-raising tales to stock a library full of books.
Harold’s story began on February 11, 1931, at Santa Barbara’s Cottage Hospital. The second son born to Artie and Berniece Gillilan, he was later followed by a sister (Marlene) and younger brother (Alan), leading him to embody both the problem-solving mind and daredevil spirit of a middle child. Raised amid the struggle of Depression-era subsistence and strife of global conflict, air raid warnings and food rationing were the norm. Then, at the age of seven, Harold lost his older brother (David) to kidney disease. If he ever felt afraid, he never let it show. He only exhibited a deeper determination to squeeze the most from every moment - no giving up, no excuses.
With a strong work ethic, sharp self-discipline, and remarkable intelligence, Harold was ready to take on the world at 17. Forgoing the rest of high school, he instead joined the US Navy so he could travel beyond his coastal town and serve the country he loved. Amid deployments during the Korean War, he met and married his wife, Mary. In 1958, they moved their three children (with one on the way) to Carpinteria. There, they settled into the Concha Loma residence that would become “home” for the rest of their lives.
In 66 years, Harold, Mary, and their children contributed meaningful pieces to the fabric of Carpinteria’s rich history. Harold took a job as a telephone man, spending his entire career helping to establish the infrastructure of this booming city by the sea. Among so many other gifts, Harold imparted to his four children a love for nature. His thirst for sightseeing led to several memorable road trips to Yosemite - a family of six piled into a trusty Volkswagen Beetle. He also proved himself as an expert carpenter and craftsman, finding great fulfillment in working with his hands. The tenacious engineer could build or fix anything and loved nothing more than a good challenge.
A curious mind and exceptional resourcefulness equipped Harold to accomplish every task he set his mind to, from studying the finer points of world history and space exploration to riding motocross and earning his karate black belt well into his fifties. He even returned to high school in 1970, obtaining his diploma at the age of 39 alongside his wife and eldest son. In retirement, he and Mary traveled the world together, cataloging their journeys in a series of journals that later served as Harold’s favorite reading material. Even the loss of his eyesight couldn’t stop him from continuing his quest for knowledge through audiobooks and other resources.
It’s not easy to sum up a century’s worth of lived experience. How do you pinpoint a favorite moment when there are millions to choose from? When pressed, Harold would simply say that he was grateful to occupy the same historical time frame as his personal hero, Albert Einstein. Of course, Harold himself was a living hero to those who knew him best and were lucky enough to call him “dad,” “grandpa,” or “g-pa.” His steady discipline, strong work ethic, and deep appreciation for nature set a powerful example for multiple generations to follow.
In the wake of his passing on the clear blue morning of July 21st - just four weeks shy of his 75th wedding anniversary - we honor a Carpinteria legend. May you find the answers to finally satisfy your every curiosity and an endless supply of fresh woodworking materials to keep you busy. You are deeply missed.
As he reunites with his son, Steve Gillilan, Harold is survived by his wife (Mary Gillilan), sister (Marlene Gillilan), brother (Alan Gillilan), son (Gary Gillilan), and his two daughters (Peggy Clarke and Janet Augerot with husband Steve Augerot), along with their families: Jennifer and Scott Barham, Vanessa and Justin Shea with children Eryn and Gavin, Sam and Erica Dudley with children Madison and Beau, Nicholas and Lauren Gonzalez with children Joseph and June.
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