Joseph Thomas Gilmore
April 10, 1933 ~ September 15, 2020
JOSEPH THOMAS GILMORE
1933 - 2020
Joseph Thomas Gilmore, aged 87, died peacefully at home in Oak Hill, Virginia on September 15, 2020 surrounded by his family. He was born on April 10, 1933 in New York City to Joseph and Margaret Gilmore (née Kelly) of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He attended St. Francis Xavier School in Philadelphia, PA, St. Cyril of Alexandria in Upper Darby, PA and West Philadelphia Catholic High School. In 1949, he entered St. Charles Seminary in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where he completed a B.A. in Philosophy and a M.A. in Theology (A.B.D.) and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1959.
Joe served as Assistant Pastor in Pottsville and Allentown, PA and as a Teacher and Guidance Counselor at Allentown Central Catholic High School and latterly as Principal of Nativity B.V.M. High School. He also served as Catholic Chaplain at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA where he completed his M.Ed in Counseling in 1967.
After retiring from active ministry, he married Joanne Moran of Providence, RI in 1970 and settled in Auburn, NY where he served as a special education project officer before moving to Albany, NY where he was appointed Director of Special Education at the New York State Board of Regents. During his tenure, he was a leading advocate for a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development, providing in-service training programs to more than 60,000 teachers to support the inclusion of children with special educational needs.
In 1979, he moved to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. as Education Program Specialist, where he led the development of a national curriculum for special needs children and youth.
He later qualified as a Registered Financial Consultant, serving as division head of Waddell & Reed in McLean, VA from 1984-1995 and latterly as a Senior Financial Planner at Edelman Financial Services in Fairfax, VA until his retirement in 2003.
A long-standing resident of McLean, VA, Joe also served as Vice Chairman of the McLean Community Center Board from 1991-1994. He was also commended to the George Washington University chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity in education and served as Treasurer of CORPUS (Corps of Reserved Priests United for Service), the national association for an inclusive priesthood.
Having met Joanne, his beloved wife of fifty years at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, he enjoyed travelling, music, books and the company of family and friends for whom he could be trusted for a good laugh and endless support. A natural seanchaí (Irish storyteller) and counselor, his life was dedicated to education and service and he will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife, his brother Edward Francis Gilmore of Ridley Park, PA, his adoring daughters, Colleen Gilmore Knerr of Fredericksburg, VA and Kerry Hugh-Jones of London, United Kingdom; grandchildren Amory Hugh-Jones (13), Felix Hugh-Jones (11) and Lillianne Knerr (7) and step-grandchildren Zachary (24), Jennifer (22), Olivia (18), and Evelyn (12) Knerr.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Catholic Relief Services at https://support.crs.org/donate/give. A funeral mass will be held 10:00am on Friday, September 18, 2020 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston VA. A celebration of his life will follow in Summer 2021.
1933 - 2020
Joseph Thomas Gilmore, aged 87, died peacefully at home in Oak Hill, Virginia on September 15, 2020 surrounded by his family. He was born on April 10, 1933 in New York City to Joseph and Margaret Gilmore (née Kelly) of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He attended St. Francis Xavier School in Philadelphia, PA, St. Cyril of Alexandria in Upper Darby, PA and West Philadelphia Catholic High School. In 1949, he entered St. Charles Seminary in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where he completed a B.A. in Philosophy and a M.A. in Theology (A.B.D.) and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1959.
Joe served as Assistant Pastor in Pottsville and Allentown, PA and as a Teacher and Guidance Counselor at Allentown Central Catholic High School and latterly as Principal of Nativity B.V.M. High School. He also served as Catholic Chaplain at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA where he completed his M.Ed in Counseling in 1967.
After retiring from active ministry, he married Joanne Moran of Providence, RI in 1970 and settled in Auburn, NY where he served as a special education project officer before moving to Albany, NY where he was appointed Director of Special Education at the New York State Board of Regents. During his tenure, he was a leading advocate for a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development, providing in-service training programs to more than 60,000 teachers to support the inclusion of children with special educational needs.
In 1979, he moved to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. as Education Program Specialist, where he led the development of a national curriculum for special needs children and youth.
He later qualified as a Registered Financial Consultant, serving as division head of Waddell & Reed in McLean, VA from 1984-1995 and latterly as a Senior Financial Planner at Edelman Financial Services in Fairfax, VA until his retirement in 2003.
A long-standing resident of McLean, VA, Joe also served as Vice Chairman of the McLean Community Center Board from 1991-1994. He was also commended to the George Washington University chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity in education and served as Treasurer of CORPUS (Corps of Reserved Priests United for Service), the national association for an inclusive priesthood.
Having met Joanne, his beloved wife of fifty years at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, he enjoyed travelling, music, books and the company of family and friends for whom he could be trusted for a good laugh and endless support. A natural seanchaí (Irish storyteller) and counselor, his life was dedicated to education and service and he will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife, his brother Edward Francis Gilmore of Ridley Park, PA, his adoring daughters, Colleen Gilmore Knerr of Fredericksburg, VA and Kerry Hugh-Jones of London, United Kingdom; grandchildren Amory Hugh-Jones (13), Felix Hugh-Jones (11) and Lillianne Knerr (7) and step-grandchildren Zachary (24), Jennifer (22), Olivia (18), and Evelyn (12) Knerr.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Catholic Relief Services at https://support.crs.org/donate/give. A funeral mass will be held 10:00am on Friday, September 18, 2020 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston VA. A celebration of his life will follow in Summer 2021.
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Joanne (& family), We are so extremely sorry to hear about the loss of Joe. He was truly one of a kind. As we look back to the past decade in this area it was always a comfort to know that we had such great family only minutes away. I recall fondly how all the Gilmores welcomed us with open arms into your homes for annual dinner parties where we got a slight glimpse into all that was “Gilmore.” I smile as I picture Joe taking center stage with one of his beautiful stories of your family, which of course, always included some lessons learned and ended with his wonderful sense of humor. We will miss him dearly. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything we can do. Wish we could give more than “virtual” hugs and kisses during these crazy times. The Morlock clan sends much love. Take care. XOXOXO Christi & Joe
Dear Joanne, You may remember that my wife, Michelle, and I came to visit you and Joe in Slingerlands in August 1976. You hosted us for dinner. Joe had been the Catholic Chaplin at Lehigh during my freshman year. He was a wonderful reassuring person who made that year less stressful than it otherwise would have been. I cannot overstate the positive effect he had on me that year. I hope your good memories of Joe bring you some solace. Sincerely, Jim Duane