Gill W. Terry, age 98, passed away May 6, 2023, born in Cleveland, Ohio; formerly of Mayfield Heights, Stow, Ohio and lifelong summer resident of Put-In-Bay, Ohio. Beloved husband of the late Mary Louise (nee Olson) Terry for 64 years. Loving father of Patricia Hadad (Fred), Gail Terry Howard (Eric Mullenmeister), Nancy Eger (Russ). Grandfather of Kim Hadad Luce (Brent), Jason Hadad (Theresa), Jaime Howard Goodman (Eric), Matthew Howard (Lindsey), Brandon Eger (Alysia), Jon Eger (Burgundy), and Ryan Eger. Great-grandfather of Hayley Luce, Clayton Luce, Nicholas Hadad, Andrew Hadad, Evelyn Louise Goodman, Miller Goodman, Elyse Goodman, Jackson Howard, Mason Howard, and Bella Eger.
Gill was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and spent every summer at his family’s cottage on Put-In-Bay. While attending Cleveland Heights High School, Gill met his sweetheart Mary Lou (Olson). Upon graduating from high school, Gill joined the United States Army. Just prior to being deployed overseas for WWII, where he served for two years in Europe, Gill and Mary Lou were married in 1943, in Phoenix, Arizona. After returning from overseas Gill and Mary Lou settled into Cleveland Heights, Ohio and then Mayfield Heights, still spending every summer with their children at the cherished cottage on Put-In-Bay. Boating, fishing, dinners and fun times at the Yacht Club, sitting on the west shore watching the sunsets with friends are the things that Gill enjoyed the most in life. He also enjoyed golfing, was an avid bowler and loved a good mystery novel. For many years he was the treasurer of his WWII 736 Tank Battalion reunion committee and helped organize the annual reunions, held all over the county, with his fellow soldiers from the “Kid Battalion”. Gill worked as an accountant his entire working life and settled easily into retirement, still spending his summers on his beloved Put-In-Bay, and snow-birding for many years in Bradenton, Florida. He was a member of the Put-In-Bay Yacht Club, a proud member of the American Legion, and loved playing cards at the PIB Senior Center. Gill also graciously made his transition from his longtime home in Mayfield Heights to his senior independent living apartment in Vitalia Residences of Stow, where he continued to make new friends. His family and friends will dearly miss Gill as nothing can replace the memory of Gill sitting on the west shore of Put-In-Bay in his special spot, enjoying his nightly libation and watching the sunset. Cheers Gill. “Life is too short even at 98.”
Visitation for Gill will be held at Gattozzi and Son Funeral Home located at 12524 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland on Friday, May 12, 2023 from 10:30am until 12:30pm. Celebration Gill's Life and tribute to his military service will begin promptly at 12:30pm at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make charitable donations to the Put-In-Bay Yacht Club, P.O. Box 51, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456 in memory of Gill.
