Anita T. Gillen, 89, of Tampa, went to Heaven on March 6, 2022, the first Sunday of Lent, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Awaiting Anita’s arrival in Paradise were her late husbands, William R. Hapner, Jr. and William A. Gillen, Sr., her son, William R. Hapner, III and her grandson, Kyle W. Rockhill. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth L. (Betsey) Hapner and Susan H. Mock (Alan), her grandchildren, W. Ryan Mock (Paige), P. Cory Mock, Melissa Mock-Wagoner (Peter) and great-grandchildren, Harrison B. Mock and Josephine S. Mock-Wagoner. Anita was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Mariemont, Ohio where she was in its first high school graduating class. Anita went to The Ohio State University where she was freshman queen and a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. It was there that she met Bill Hapner and they married when she was 21. When Bill graduated from law school at The Ohio State University, he was drafted and they went to Newport News, VA where he served in the Army Courts and Boards while she worked as a secretary. Anita cried when they got there and cried even harder when they left, for it was there where they met longtime friends and Tampa residents, Jimmie Robbins and John Lawson. After the military, the Hapners moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio while Bill practiced with Arter & Hadden in Cleveland. All three children were born at Cleveland Clinic. After Anita’s father passed away when she was 20, her mother moved to Pinellas County and settled in Safety Harbor, where the growing Hapner family would vacation in Florida each winter. In 1962, Bill accepted a position with Fowler White and the family relocated to Tampa. After Bill’s death in 1980, Anita re-entered the work force, working at the USF Student Center for her dear friend Phyllis Marshall. She continued employment there until she married William A. Gillen, Sr. in early 1988. After Bill Gillen’s death in 1999, Anita re-entered the work force again, first as a substitute judicial assistant and then as judicial assistant first to the Honorable Raul C. (Sonny) Palomino, Jr. and then to the Honorable Matthew C. Lucas. She enjoyed working at the courthouse so much that she continued until after her 80th birthday. Anita loved to garden and grow roses and was a past president of the Azalea Garden Circle. She was a longtime member of The Chiselers, a devoted Buckeyes fan and later a Gator fan as well.
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 at Blount & Curry, MacDill Chapel, with visitation preceding at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Alzheimer’s Association or Moffitt Cancer Center.
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