Thomas J. Gilgut

ATHOL – Thomas J. Gilgut, age 105 and holder of the Boston Post Cane for Athol, Ma died Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Quabbin Valley Health Care in Athol, where he had resided for the past year and a half. He was born in Athol on January 1, 1912 to the Tofilia (Dudis) and John Gilgut. He was predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Lucille (Brouillet) Gligut, in October 2007. He leaves four children: Thomas Gilgut Jr. of Poughkeepsie, NY, Ann Marie Smith of Las Vegas, NV, Lynn Boudreau of Orange, MA and Stephanie Gilgut of Athol, MA; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was also predeceased by his sister Adelle Duval and two brothers, Constantine Gilgut and John Gilgut. Tom graduated from Athol High School in 1928 and took part in the General Electric training program. He returned to Athol to work for the Union Twist Drill company, where he was employed for some 40 years, retiring as a foreman from Litton Industries. Tom was one of the original trustees of Athol Memorial Hospital. During the 1940s, he was active in the fund-raising program that led to the construction of the hospital in 1950. He served from 1950 on as a trustee officer of the hospital and was president from 1975-1980. He previously served as first vice president and secretary. He actively worked for the creation of the hospital’s health maintenance organization, the North Quabbin Health Plan. Tom was a member of Our Lady Immaculate Church. He took part in activities of the Riverbend Woods senior community in Athol, where he previously resided. He was an excellent cribbage player, making it o the fourth round in South Athol Tournament when he was 101. He also enjoyed shuffleboard. He was in his 80s when he discovered the joys of computing and played cribbage and solitaire on the computer until a couple of years before his death. He was also active for many years in the Athol Bird and Nature Club. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Rd., Orange. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to Athol Hospital, 2033 Main St., Athol, MA 01331 or the Athol Bird and Nature Club, 100 Main St., Athol, MA 01331. Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 100 New Athol Rd, Orange is directing arrangements