Maureen Cassidy '63

Maureen Gillmer 75, of Reedville, Virginia died on February 21, 2021 at home surrounded by her family.

Maureen was born in Chicago, ILL on March 9, 1945. Prior to attending Mount Union College in Alliance Ohio, she travelled extensively as she was the daughter of a career Naval Officer. One of the highlights for Maureen was living in Norway during her high school years. Maureen graduated from Old Dominion University. Maureen worked for the States Attorney's Office of Anne Arundel County in Annapolis Md. A few years later she became director of the Witness/ Victims Advocacy Program. Through her direction and leadership, she developed the program to become the model for similar programs in the state and nationwide. She won numerous awards, both state and nationwide. Maureen was an inspiration, mentor and dear friend to many.

After retiring Maureen moved to Reedville, Va where she became very active in the local community and the Reedville Fisherman's Museum. She headed up many fundraisers for the museum that still exist today including Mistletoe and Mimosas, Reedville Winter Market, Children's 4th of July painting. Another fundraiser Maureen spearheaded and loved was the Birkel Bears project; (small bears made of the velvet curtains that once hung in the Reedville School). Maureen was especially proud to be a member of the Save the Stack committee.

Maureen had a passion for going to yard sales and thrift stores. She saw the potential in things discarded by others and being the creative person she was, would turn them into art or give them a new purpose. She learned how to upholster and became very accomplished. Maureen was an artist and painted pictures that hang on the walls of many a home. Her main love was working with fabric and she was an excellent seamstress. She loved quilting and being a member of the quilting groups including Rivah Quilters. Maureen was a prolific quilter who produced beautiful quilts for many of her relatives and friends. One of her greatest joys was seeing the reactions on peoples faces when she gifted them one of her creations.

Maureen was the wife of Charles Gillmer of Reedville to whom she was married 41 years. Other survivors include her two sons, Andrew Scott Gordon of Freeland Md. and Jeffrey Pratt Gordon and his wife Shelbi of Brooks GA.; one daughter, Melissa Console and her husband Bryan of Huntington Beach CA.; sister Dr. Kathleen Bojanowski Th.D, and her husband Chester; and a brother Michael A Cassidy and his wife Ann; Maureen has five granddaughters: Hailey, Piper, Charley, Kennett and Aspen. She is predeceased by her parents and a son Matthew D Gillmer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Reedville Fisherman's museum or the Gastric Cancer Foundation.