Robert Emory Gillespie, Jr.

Robert Emory Gillespie, Jr., age 56, passed away Monday, May 5, 2025. Robert was born May 13, 1968 in Birmingham, AL and grew up in Montgomery, AL. He attended Jefferson Davis High School, class of 1986, and Huntingdon College on an academic and baseball scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

Robert started his career in chemical sales with Buckman Laboratories in St. Mary’s, GA. He later returned to Birmingham working in medical sales with numerous companies through the years. Some of his most enjoyable positions were National Director of Business Development at Atherotec, Inc; Director of Sales at Esoterix, Inc and Regional Transplant Manager at Europhins, Transplant Genomics, Inc.

Robert had a personality that filled the room. His booming voice and contagious demeanor let you know he was ready to lift-up a kid with two strikes on his back in a tie ball game. He was an excellent athlete – playing high school football, basketball, and baseball, continuing his baseball career into college, but most of all he enjoyed coaching his son’s little league and travel baseball teams. His ability to disarm with humor, matched by his unyielding protection of the dignity of his players, WAS the magic of Robert Gillespie. He could not have been prouder of Rob’s many accomplishments on and off the field and loved watching him excel in baseball and football for Mountain Brook High School. Robert was given "A Promise to Help Servants Award" for his charitable contributions through the years with the Spirit of Luke Charitable Foundation - a worthy organization founded by Dr. Sandra and Henry Ford which provides free healthcare and social services to underserved communities in Alabama’s Black Belt. Robert had a genuine love of music, with an extensive playlist from the ‘70s and ‘80s. He knew every artist and every lyric and shared that enthusiasm for music with his friends and family, who he loved very much.

Robert was preceded in death by his father, Robert Emory Gillespie, Sr. He is survived by Natalie Tortorici Gillespie and son Robert "Rob" Emory Gillespie III; mother Marilyn Motlow Gillespie; sister Evelyn Gillespie Smith (Ted), many nephews, cousins, relatives, and supportive friends.

Memorial service will be Tuesday, May 13th on his birthday at Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. Visitation 1:30 PM, with service at 2:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Spirit of Luke Charitable Foundation A Promise to Help, 516 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211. apromisetohelp.com