What can I say but this is very difficult for me. I had known Dale and Donald since Donald was a baby. Donald is 6 months older than my daughter. We played softball together when we worked at Air Systems together. We brought the kids to each game. I was there with him when he started Accurate Air.  He was a Detroit Lions fan and I am a Seahawk fan and for years we would console each other for our teams terrible seasons. When Seattle qualified for the Super Bowl he was the first to call me and congratulate me. When Seattle won the Super Bowl I believe he shared that victory with me. That’s the kind of guy he was. I think the best of his accomplishments was how he took a some times difficult teenage boy and turned him into a very good young man. A young man I am proud to call my friend for many years. He taught his 2 daughters to be strong and independent young women who can accomplish anything they want to. 

In 1997 I asked him to be my best man for my wedding to Ms. Barbara Ann Fitzgerald. He had to be my best man because if it wasn’t for him I would never have had the 20 wonderful years I did have with her, because she was a part time secratary for him.  They were great friends and she adored him. In 2014 Barbara passed away and Dale and Donald were there for me with my oldest friend giving me a bear hug with tears in our eyes. I watched Dale’s 3 children grow up and they have turned into terrific adults. That’s what his legacy is just as mine will be. Please give Barbbie a hug and kiss for me pal. 

I have been cutting  Dale's hair since before I can  remember  what I admired the most about him  was his devotion to his family he loved  his kids and family and friends with all his heart what a amazing person he was and positive in the worst of times he always managed to keep his chin up and laugh I am truly a better person for knowing him and I am thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of his life rock on my favorite rock star may  your memory be eternal xo 

Dale and Donald were two of my first friends when I move to Ft. Myers. Dale took me in immediately, and our love for sports instantly bonded us.  I’ll never forget him taking myself, Donald, and one of my loud mouth friends down to GCTC. He picked us all up after a fun night of dinner and drinks, and my loud mouth friend and Donald got into it. Dale was driving us all and kept everyone inline the whole way back. I apologized to him for my friends behavior, and Dale simply said, “Don’t worry about it, sometimes things like this happen.” He never pointed the finger at my friend even though he was in the wrong. Dale saw things for what they were, and what the best outcome could be. Thanks for your friendship Dale, I know you are seeing things for what they are even more clear now. 

Dale became an acquaintance of mine through his dating and marriage to Debbie. As Debbie’s friend and employer for a number of years I had some concerns when she began dating Dale as to what kind of fellow he was and would he be a caring and kind husband to Debbie?
I didn’t meet Dale until after the engagement, but when I did meet him I understood why Debbie was attracted to him. 
I found  Dale to be a very  bright guy who was also a great conversationalist. He could easily shift from  talking about  current happenings in politics,(which we shared  a lot of common thought) to music( where we shared an enjoyment of early rock.) I would hum the beginning few bars of  an early song and Dale  would start singing the song and tell me the recording artist. He also knew all the old baseball greats, not just from his beloved Tigers, but also from my Cleveland Indians as well.
 My favorite NBA team is the San Antonio Spurs and it was not unusual to have Dale text me late at night about some big play he’d just witnessed while watching the Spurs on TV.
Dale seemed to know a little something about any topic you brought up so we also shared in some trivia fun together.
I enjoyed his sense of humor and that winning half smile that he displayed after he had told something humorous.
I learned early on that my concerns about  Dale being kind and caring to Debbie were unfounded. In fact, the more I learned about Dale over these past few years the more I learned about his kindness, caring and giving spirit, not only to Debbie, but to family and friends as well.
Dale,like us all ,experienced “the good, the bad, and the ugly” in this life. Although he thoroughly enjoyed the”good”, he handled the”bad” and the “ugly” as well as anyone I’ve known. He lived life with gusto and  he didn’t just have the demeanor of “cool”, he truly was a cool guy who will be greatly missed, but fondly remembered by all who knew him.
My condolences to Debbie and  the family on your loss.
Dr. Jim 

I grew up on Cora avenue, just across the street from the Gilman family.  Dale was a few years older than me but he was always around my older brothers Dan and Dennis.  He solidified his  image as the coolest guy in the neighborhood when he started playing an electric guitar.  I think his favorite tune one summer was “wipe out”.  A new neighbor moved in and smiled when he heard the tune coming from Dale’s bedroom window.  His “cool” demeanor stayed with him through the years.  Great guy, he will be missed.

OBITUARY

Dale Alan Gilman

September 28, 1960 – September 2, 2018

Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery

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