Robert Forrest Gill

Robert F. "Bob" Gill, 83, a gentle Christian man and dear friend to many, died peacefully after a two year battle with brain cancer. He attacked his cancer with a positive attitude, to never give up, give it his all and beat this disease. He lived his life daily by the Bible verse Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your Heart".

His life was full of meaningful relationships. Bob was a loving and caring husband to his wife Faith, who passed away in 2018. High School sweethearts and married for 61 years, they made their lives together a "True Love Story."

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Bob attended Oakley Green grade school and graduated from Jefferson High School ('54). At Jefferson he ran track and played football for the Democrats. As quarterback in 1953, under the Coach Tom Desylvia era, he was First Team All-PIL and earned a berth to play in the annual Shrine All-Star Football game. He received scholarships to Portland State and Oregon State College, and 50 years later in 2005 he was inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame.

In 1954, Bob played "Rookball" at Oregon State followed by one season as quarterback at Portland State. He returned to Oregon State winter term to finish pre-dental studies, and pledged Phi Delta Theta fraternity, where he developed many lifelong friendships. Shortly thereafter, Faith followed him to Oregon State where they became "Forever, Beaver Believers."

After Bob was accepted to the University of Oregon Dental School, Bob and Faith married on June 22, 1957. As a dental student, seeking extra income to support a growing family, he used his artistic ability to provide illustrations for two dental textbooks. Graduating in 1961 at age 24, he fulfilled his military duties and moved the family to Camp Pendleton, in Oceanside, Calif. where he was a Lieutenant in the Dental Corps of the U.S. Navy.

In 1963, they moved to Medford, Oregon, where he opened his first solo dental practice. Moving to Portland in 1970, the family settled in the Eastmoreland neighborhood, with Bob establishing his dental office in the neighboring Woodstock area.

Becoming a dentist was the perfect career choice for Bob. One really didn't know if it was the dentistry he enjoyed, or all the relationships he had with his patients and his treasured dental staff, whom he treated like daughters. In 2008, after 47 years of dentistry at age 71, he announced his retirement.

From athlete to sports historian to author, his retirement was full. As a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club since 1982, and a former racquetball player, Bob was asked to join the intramural doubles Handballers and never looked back. Bob loved playing with his large group of buddies, which he nicknamed: "his loved ones." With his often-tournament-doubles-partner Ed Grossenbacher, they won two back-to-back MAC Club doubles masters championships, State masters Doubles, and in 2008, the Pacific NW Regional 70+ division title. In 2018, the group honored him with the MAC Cebula Award.

Bob's connection to sport and community continued. In 1987, Bob became a board member for the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. For six years, he was chairman of the selection committee. During this time, he discovered his great interest in sports history. An avid writer, Bob dedicated many years to researching Oregon's athletes and coaches, including authoring "It's in Their Blood, a History and Legacies of 53 Oregon Football Coaches" and writing the biography for Jefferson alumnus and dear friend, Mel Renfro in "Mel Renfro: Forever a Cowboy."

He was a board member of Oregon's Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Past president and board member of the Portland chapter of the National Football Foundation and Scholarship program. For years he presented the "walk of champions" award to high school coaches at their annual awards ceremony.

Bob successfully nominated into the Nation College Football Hall of Fame: Oregon State's coach Tommy Prothero, Linfield College coach Ad Rutschman and Portland State quarterback and former NFL player Neil Lomax.

In 1998, Bob initiated, with the help of Neil Lomax and his company Promax, the return of the Shrine All-Star football game to the Portland area, renamed as "The Les Schwab Bowl." Bob was acting chairman and presented the MVP trophy for 20 years.

All of this was a platform for Bob to showcase his love of sports and people. Over the years, he worked to bring people together. Never without his camera, Bob Loved planning reunions to reminisce about experiences and how those experiences built long-lasting memories.

His last banquet was his most treasured honor, the induction into the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 for his special contribution to sports. Bob was honored that so many friends and family came to support him.

Bob's friendships from his school days to organizations to dental patients were important to him; he nurtured those relationships and took a real interest in their lives. He was a genuine person; an encourager and always put others first. You really saw that Bob lived his full 83 years.

Bob is survived by his four children: Michael (Tina), Scott, Amy Candello (Dave) and Alison Bruun (Scott) and six granddaughters: Miranda Maynard (Jeremy), Emily Candello, Marissa Gill, Natalie Bruun, Brittany Gill and Katie Bruun. And his brother James Gill.

He was preceded in death by wife Faith, father Thomas Gill, mother Marian Reid, brother Tom Gill and sister Suzanne Frink.

Due to COVID-19, Bob's celebration of life will be held at a later date.