Paul John Gillis

Paul John Gillis, 88, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2022 at his Silver Spring home with his family by his side.  The son of James Ernest Gillis and Corinne (MacFarland) Gillis, he was born October 7, 1934, at Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC.  He arrived minutes after his identical twin brother, Peter. 

Paul attended Petworth Elementary School, MacFarland Junior High School, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC.  Paul graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (1953).  At B-CC, he was part of an informal social club, self-dubbed the “Polar Bears,” who distinguished themselves by waiting outdoors for school to open without their coats on.  He remained close friends with his fellow Polar Bears, including Bob Martin and Don Titus, throughout his lifetime. 

Paul was a 1957 graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.  In college, he served as President of the Newman (Catholic student) Club and was elected to Beta Alpha Psi (accounting honor society) and Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership fraternity). 

Paul and his wife of 62 years, Margaret Ann (Westgerdes) Gillis, were married in 1960.  They met in Ohio where Paul was auditing the books of her employer.  He was so taken with Marge, he proposed after knowing her only a few weeks.  Marge declined but they continued a long-distance relationship by phone every Sunday evening.  Within a year he proposed again and they were married four months later.  They raised five children and had eleven grandchildren.  Paul was a loving father and grandfather and was never happier than at large family gatherings where he offered grace before meals, always thanking God for the many blessings bestowed on the family.  He taught his children that to whom much is given, much is expected, and encouraged each to pursue their own God-given talents to the fullest. 

He was a CPA and worked as an accountant for most of his life.  His first job was with Arthur Young in New York City.  He left his position at Arthur Young to support his father’s accounting firm due to his father’s ailing health, and he subsequently became a partner with Berman, Goldman and Ribakow, in the firm’s Chevy Chase and Columbia, Maryland offices.  He later formed his own accounting firm where he employed a staff of CPAs and was known for sharing his love of the profession as well as life lessons in integrity, hard work, and faith.   

His many professional accomplishments included serving as an expert witness on behalf of Native American tribes in claims filed against the trust accounts managed by the Department of the Interior.  Each of the cases in which he testified resulted in verdicts for his clients and substantial financial recoveries for the affected tribes.  In recognition of his work, he was named an honorary member of the Apache, Kiowa, and Comanche tribes of Southwest Oklahoma.  He had a deep appreciation for Native American culture and often wore a bolero tie.  He served as the auditor for the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and taught classes to APWU officials on technical accounting subjects such as auditing procedures and non-profit accounting.  He took great pleasure in making these challenging subjects interesting and memorable to his students.  In addition, he also served on the Board of Trustees for the Centers for the Handicapped (now CHI Centers, Inc.). 

Paul was a man of deep abiding faith and spirituality. Throughout his life, he remained active in the Catholic church, including his parish, St. John the Evangelist.  At St. John’s, he served on the Parish Council and was a Eucharistic minister as well as an usher.  For over 40 years, he and Marge participated in Teams of Our Lady, a Catholic couples Bible-study.  After retirement, Paul was active in the Neocatechumenal Way, a Catholic community that included many newcomers to the United States.  

Paul enjoyed sharing his life experiences and beliefs with his fellow NeoCats, helping them acclimate to life in the U.S. and gain their footing with a foundation in faith.    

Paul was a man of many diverse interests.  He loved classical music, cars, Terrapin basketball, and crossword puzzles.  He collected books, coins, model trains, glassware, and Native American rugs, baskets, and pottery.  He was a life-long student of history, militaria, architecture, archeology, antiques, and the financial markets.  He enjoyed a good-natured political debate and watched shows like “The McLaughlin Group” with his children, fostering their knowledge of government and politics.  In his post-retirement years, he frequently met for coffee with his brothers, David and Peter, at the Corner Bakery in Bethesda to discuss the events of the day as well as investment strategies.  He enjoyed weekend excursions with Marge all around the Chesapeake Bay region and loved nothing more than a good crab feast with friends and family.  

Paul is survived by his wife, Marge; his five children Patty Cousins and husband Bill Dempster, John Gillis and wife Katie, Susie Hodges and husband Wiley, Mary Lynn Clark and husband Matt, Chris Gillis and wife Lynsay;  eleven grandchildren Grace, Will and Patrick Cousins, Calvin and Amelia Hodges, Laura, Ellie and Gabe Clark, and Cameron, Brooke and Emily Gillis; and his twin brother, Peter Gillis.  He was predeceased by his brothers, Jim and David Gillis. 

A celebration of Paul’s life will be held at St. John the Evangelist Church, 10103 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902 on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 with Viewing beginning at 11am and the Funeral Mass at 12 noon.  Internment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20906.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 10103 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902 or the Capuchin Friars of St. Augustine Province, 4121 Harewood Road, NE, Washington, DC 20017.