Madeleine Gillis Dies At 74
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Madeleine Gillis with Frances Luhman McDonald, far left, and family members at a benefit held in her honor at the Museum of the Moving Image in Sept. of 2005.

More than 100 people, including friends and family, turned out Monday morning to say a final farewell to Madeleine Gillis, the cheery, alwaysready to-help Astoria community activist who died last Thursday evening at age 74.

The Monday service at Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church followed her cremation the previous Saturday.

The gracious, almost lifelong Astoria resident, known as “Meg” (which was her byline as a Western Queens Gazette feature writer some years back) had been in ill health for about the past two years since developing debilitating ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Among other traits, she was a heroic woman and waged a fight against that awful disease which was hard to believe, related Julian Wager, one of her many friends and admirers.

Wager, Gazette advertising director and longtime leader of the Steinway Merchants Association, now the Steinway Business Improvement District, served with Gillis on Community Board 1 and also knew her through her many other community activities.

Wager was also part of a group which held a fundraiser for Gillis in 2005. Others involved in the event, which raised a substantial amount of funds, were Frances Luhmann McDonald, Rose Marie Poveromo, Jack Brucculeri, Vinicio Donato and Marie Torniali.

Calling themselves Friends of Madeleine, the group also received assistance from architect Gerald Caliendo, who designed the alterations to Gillis’ living quarters to make her more comfortable in her declining years. The funds raised by the Friends group covered her personal needs during that period.

Gillis is survived by two younger sisters and a younger brother; six children and several grandchildren.

Her husband, Bernard, predeceased her.

How much Gillis was loved is revealed in a notice sent out by Friends of Madeleine last year.

“Most of us have known Madeleine for a number of years. Madeleine epitomizes the true meaning of the words ‘good neighbor’,” the notice said.

“Quietly and with admirable dedication to family, home, school and community. Madeleine has raised her six children alone in the heart of Long Island City. And carved out a living at such varied jobs, driving a stretch limo, for a car service, being an aide for Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, and editing the PR newsletter

“Contacts” for its originator, Michael Smith. Currently Madeleine is a member of Community Board 1 serving as the chairperson of the Consumer Affairs Committee.

“Above all else, Madeleine was always there when needed. Now, Madeleine needs each and every one of us! Within the last 18 months, Madeleine has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease.) This devastating disease has left Madeleine in a wheelchair necessitating her bathroom to be altered and adapted for wheelchair use. The Friends of Madeleine are asking for your generous donations to make this happen. Maybe if we are generous and imaginative enough, we can also get Madeleine an accessible van. If we all pull together, we know We can do it!!!! Sooooo...We will be celebrating Madeleine and her spirit for living that has touched us in so many ways.

At the time Gillis wrote for the Gazette, this writer was her editor. I remember her as a fine writer with never a problem meeting deadlines. She was always cooperative with a personality that made a friend of anyone she dealt with.

Gillis moved to Astoria in 1944 and attended William Cullen Bryant H.S. and later Baruch College. She was married in 1953. Following her husband’s death, she raised her six children on her own while working full time, continuing her education and that of her children. Her early jobs were with McGraw-Hill Publishing, Neufeld Insurance and H.J. Baker.

Her interests, according to family members, were being a community activist, traveling, bead work, gardening, writing, reading, dancing, singing and old movies.

One friend recalled: “She loved to preserve the environment and historical things. She was a collector, from old hats to hand tools. She loved a good fight, especially when it was to help others or to preserve things in the community. She was never short of advice or opinions in order to help others, even in her last days.”

Gillis was a free spirit, which she showed in her lifestyle, the distinctive way she dressed and the way she carried herself. She will be missed.