RIP Don Gillis

[dalero]

Long time NE sportscaster and someone I grew up watching (how could you not, he covered everything). He was 85.

 

[Kontradiction]

Sad that he died at such a ripe, young age.

Okay, that was inappropriate. I'm sorry. R.I.P.

 

[Pats726]

Sorry to hear that..he was channel 5 sports and one of the few that was around for ages and ages...maybe the ONLY sort of comparison is that he was the Bob Lobell of the 50s and 60s... Sad...he will be missed...

 

[NoCal Patriot]

Long time NE sportscaster and someone I grew up watching (how could you not, he covered everything). He was 85.

Don Gillis was one of the best ever.From Candlepin Bowling to Patriots Football in the preseaon ,He did everything.One of my favorite memories is when He and Rommie Loudd who worked for the Patriots in Player Personnel did the Preseason games and Loudd would get so excited when The Patriots did well,He would just scream "GILLIS,GILLIS" to get Don's attention!
Don will be missed,He was a great one. RIP Don!

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Sad to hear this - I used to love watching him do commentary for Candlepin bowling at Fairway Lanes in Natick. He was great!

 

[IndyKen]

I liked him a lot. I remember him doing some of the Celtics games back in the mid-60's.

RIP Don.

 

[PromisedLand]

It's too bad we couldn't have pulled out that last big win for him in SB42. RIP, Don. I'll never forget, "the kick is up, it's long enough, it's good! It's good! The Patriots are Super Bowl Champions!"

 

[shmessy]

It's too bad we couldn't have pulled out that last big win for him in SB42. RIP, Don. I'll never forget, "the kick is up, it's long enough, it's good! It's good! The Patriots are Super Bowl Champions!"

I think you are confusing Don Gillis with Gil Santos.

 

[SmokeShowin]

Don Gillis was one of the best ever.From Candlepin Bowling ...

I knew I recognized the name! I grew up watching that.

RIP Don.

 

[SmokeShowin]

I think you are confusing Don Gillis with Gil Santos.

You're both wrong. He starred on Different Strokes. Don't you remember Gary Coleman saying "What you talkin 'bout Gillis?"


Sorry. Totally inappropriate. :bricks:

 

[groundgame]

Sad to hear this - I used to love watching him do commentary for Candlepin bowling at Fairway Lanes in Natick. He was great!

I agree Don Gillis was at his best on the Sat AM bowling show. The same small band of spectators every week on CH 5 (watching them just as good as the bowling). As a youngster, I used to love to listen to Don do the Red Sox pre-game show "Dugout Interviews" show on my GE transister radio tuned to WHDH. Not a bad radio trio in the Red Sox 60's: Curt Gowdy, Ned Martin and Don Gillis (great hair too).

 

[DarMan]

Sad to hear this - I used to love watching him do commentary for Candlepin bowling at Fairway Lanes in Natick. He was great!

Watching candlepin bowling on Saturdays was a staple in my house. I still remember Don Gillis and Stasia Czernicki (great women's candlepin bowler). RIP, Don.

 

[shmessy]

Don co-mc'ed The Impossible Dream TV special with Ken Coleman in the winter of 1967.

Thought some folks would enjoy this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1qlOjIVBuY

 

[NormZauchin]

Count me as another who has fond memories of the 50s and of watching Don Gillis and Candlepin Bowling on Saturdays --- especially remembering Joe Cawlina mow down all comers.

 

[NoCal Patriot]

Watching candlepin bowling on Saturdays was a staple in my house. I still remember Don Gillis and Stasia Czernicki (great women's candlepin bowler). RIP, Don.

Stasia Czernicki,now there's a blast from the past.Not only was She a great bowler She was the female Ted Williams when it came to fishing too.I used to get invited to go fishing with her Brother in Law when I was a kid and She often went too.Many happy memories battling Stripers and Blues off of Cape Cod with Stasia Czericki !

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Sad to hear this - I used to love watching him do commentary for Candlepin bowling at Fairway Lanes in Natick. He was great!

When I moved to Boston, I had no idea what Candlepin bowling was. I learned from Don, and enjoyed his reporting for years. RIP.

 

[Pats726]

Count me as another who has fond memories of the 50s and of watching Don Gillis and Candlepin Bowling on Saturdays --- especially remembering Joe Cawlina mow down all comers.

OR Tony Baldinelli..or **** Smos.....Don wasn't on the bowling show until the late 60s..people forget it was Jim Britt who originated that Saturday show and it was Gillis that took over for him..