Dorothy “Dot” Gillian of Forest Park died peacefully on June 16 at age 69. She was staying on Paddock Lake in Wisconsin, her favorite place in the world, according to her obituary, with her family.
Gillian lived in Forest Park her whole life. She was a real estate agent for 19 years, worked as executive director of the Main Street revitalization project and as a board member of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce for over two decades – three of which she served as president.
Gillian is survived by her children, grandchildren and husband, Tim Gillian, who previously served as village commissioner and village administrator and is now on the Park District of Forest Park’s Board of Commissioners. They were married for 51 years.
Former Forest Park Mayor Tony Calderone grew up with Dorothy and Tim in Forest Park. Calderone and Dorothy were the same age, and he said that, from childhood, she was sociable and kind.
“Her outgoing personality and her bright smile always brought life to whatever the setting was. That ended up carrying out, not only as children, but as young adults and into adulthood,” Calderone said.
Calderone was mayor while Gillian was working for the Chamber and on the Main Street revitalization, during which he said she was “nothing short of very professional and personable with a strong love for the village of Forest Park.”
“There’s definitely going to be very tough shoes to fill. Dorothy was a very dynamic person and always tried to bring inclusivity to the various folks who were involved in each organization. It takes a person of a special character to be able to do that,” Calderone added. “It’s getting harder and harder to find people of her caliber and character who want to be involved.”
Laurie Kokenes, executive director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Development, agreed.
“As a lifelong resident, Dorothy gave so much of herself to Forest Park in countless ways,” Kokenes said. “Dorothy was always willing to roll up her sleeves and help wherever needed, and she knew the true meaning of collaboration. She never shied away from asking for input and would always consider every point of view before making a decision. Dorothy was always in it for the right reason: to make a difference wherever she could. Our chamber came out of the pandemic stronger than ever because she chose to share her time and talents with us.”
April Baker, who lived in Forest Park for 13 years, was Gillian’s real estate partner for a decade. Before her passing, Gillian co-owned real estate company Gillian Group, which primarily sells properties in Forest Park, with her daughters Anna Cramer and Caitlin Thorsen. Baker said she’s going to miss Gillian’s accepting and willing nature when Baker needed to vent or bounce ideas off of her. The morning after Gillian’s death, Baker said she wanted to call her to do just that.
Gillian was Baker’s realtor before she decided to become one herself. She reached out to Gillian to ask about the process, and the two ended up forming a team, selling property in Forest Park and Oak Park.
“She was top realtor in Forest Park for many years,” Baker said. “She was my mentor and sometimes almost like a pseudo-mother to me.” When Gillian and Baker started working together, Baker was a single mom to a one-year-old and said that her own mother wasn’t present.
“She was more than a business partner to me. She was a dear friend and one I could always turn to for advice, whether it was real estate related or mother related,” Baker said. She added that Gillian was a “doting mother and grandmother.”
Gillian had overflowing generosity and attentiveness to building and caring for her relationships that reached everyone that she touched.
“Real estate to her wasn’t just a business. It was family, and her clients turned into lifelong friends,” Baker said.
Gillian is also survived by her children Ryan Gillian, Caitlin Thorsen and Anna Cramer; her grandchildren Mary, Liam, Henry, Harvey and Dottie – named after Gillian; and her siblings Patricia Roeder, Joe Madden, Ray Madden, Cathy LeBeda, Mike Gillian, Pat Gillian, Becky Hunnicutt, Peg Madden, Kelly Wuchte, Sharon Tierney and John Gillian.
Following her death, Gillian’s family is asking for donations to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry at St. Bernardine’s or CAST Water Safety.
Baker said Gillian was very active with St. Bernardine’s, including in its fashion show. Baker also referenced the family’s work in raising funds to beat cystic fibrosis, an illness which afflicted their daughter Anna since infancy.
“The Gillians continue to be huge fundraisers and active in that community,” Baker said.
Since 1989 when Anna was two, the family has raised roughly $750,000 – money that contributed to research that developed the prescription drug Trikafta, which Anna started taking and has improved her life immensely. Mother, daughter and grandchild were featured on the Review’s cover in January 2024, telling the inspiring story of Anna becoming a mom.
Forest Park will miss “Having that presence there, having one of those people who truly cared about and loved Forest Park and wanted the best for it in every way, and was there to work on the smallest thing to the biggest.”
“Her passing is a tremendous loss for all of us at the Chamber, and for me personally,” Kokenes said. “Dorothy truly was one of a kind – the kind of person who quietly made everything around her better.”
Gillian’s family is holding a visitation on June 19 at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 Madison St., from 2 to 7 p.m. with a memorial service at 6 p.m. There will be a celebration of life down the street at Fat Duck Tavern & Grill, 7218 Madison St., from 3 to 9 p.m.