RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA: Matthew J. “Red” McGillick, age 84, a resident of Tewksbury for over 50 years, died Thursday, January 22, 2004 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.
He was the husband of Dorothy R. (Giles) McGillick with whom he would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on October 29th.
Born in Fall River on October 18, 1919, he was the son of the late Matthew A. and Margaret (Johnson) McGillick.
Mr. McGillick was raised in the West End of Boston. He attended St. Joseph’s school and Boston English High School.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard and was honorably discharged with the rank of private in 1940. In addition, he served in the Army during World War II with Battery G of the 51st Coast Artillery Battalion. Mr. McGillick was honorably discharged with the rank of Technician 4th Grade on September 23, 1943.
He was a resident of Tewksbury since 1950 and was a communicant of St. Dorothy’s Church in Wilmington. Mr. McGillick was active in church affairs, as an usher, financial supporter and one of the original members of the church choir.
Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a letter carrier at the Tewksbury office of the U.S. Postal Service. In his early career, Mr. McGillick was a manager in the Stop & Shop Supermarket chain, and just prior to joining the Postal Service, he had been store manager at Freddie’s Supermarket formerly of South Tewksbury.
Mr. McGillick was a member of many Tewksbury civic and fraternal organizations including the V.F.W. Post # 8164, D.A.V. Post # 110 and the Tewksbury Knights of Columbus Council # 4336.
He previously served as Tewksbury’s Veterans Advisor and was a founding member Tewksbury Patriotic Activities Committee.
Mr. McGillick was well known for his courteous nature, quick wit, corny stories and his ever constant willingness to help others.
He was an avid sports fan and had been a longtime season ticket holder of the New England Patriots. However, first and foremost, he was a fan of Tewksbury High School Football, attending games and practices for 40 years.
In his retirement, Mr. McGillick enjoyed gardening, cross word puzzles, playing golf, reading the West Ender News, traveling with his wife and friends to the Carribean, and his daily ritual of raising and lowering the American Flag on his front lawn.
Besides his wife, Mr. McGillick is survived by 2 daughters; Ardis J. “Dee” McGillick-Colarusso and her husband Thomas of Tewksbury and Patricia A. Foley and her husband Neil of Winchester; 2 sons; Matthew J. McGillick, Jr. and his wife Jean (Kearney) of Chelmsford and Richard P. McGillick and his wife Smita (Patel) of Rapid City, SD; 10 grandchildren; Thomas Matthew Colarusso, Andrea M. (Colarusso) Rhodes, Brendan Matthew and Sean C. McGillick, Katherine E. and Allison V. Jaynes, Neil T. and Lauren D. Foley, Giles R. and Matthew J. McGillick; 1 great grandson; Joseph Matthew D. Rhodes; many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours Tuesday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the FARMER & DEE FUNERAL HOME, 16 LEE ST., TEWKSBURY. Funeral Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. from the funeral home. Funeral Mass Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Dorothy’s Church, Main St., Rte. 38, Wilmington. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery.