Majorie Flynn passed away August 12, 2020. Marjorie joined her beloved husband Eddie in his arms in heaven. Marjorie leaves her loving daughter Lucy, son Mark, sons-in law David and Tom, her brother Bill, and sisters Lucy and Betty. She is predeceased by her daughter Laureen and her sister Barbara.
The family would like to thank CareOne for their loving help to Marjorie for over nine years.

Amherst, MA—Sandy Hill (born Francis S. Hill, Jr.), aged 79 years, passed away on July 24, 2020 of complications from a stroke suffered in 2000.

Born in Boston, MA, to Francis Sherburne Hill, Sr. and Evelyn Ames Royce Hill, Sandy earned electrical engineering degrees (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.) from Yale University. In graduate school he began his teaching career as a Carnegie Teaching Fellow, as well as consulting for the RAND Corporation. After graduation he worked for Bell Telephone Laboratories in digital data transmission for three years before becoming a professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

For 32 years, Sandy taught, advised and inspired students at UMass. He was beloved as a dedicated, enthusiastic, generous teacher and colleague. During his time at UMass, Sandy became a pioneer in distance learning, teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses in television studio classrooms for his on-campus students. These courses were recorded and delivered to industry by both videotape and satellite broadcast, allowing off-campus corporate engineers an opportunity to earn advanced degrees while continuing to work. Sandy also created and directed Engineering Computer Services and authored several textbooks including Computer Graphics, published in 1990. Innovative, energetic, charismatic, and fun, Sandy was also invited by corporations to teach week-long in-service computer courses. Always interested in new ideas and developments in programming languages, computer technology, and computer graphics, Sandy bridged a gap between computer engineering and computer science. Some of Sandy’s teaching awards include being selected as a Lilly Endowment Teaching Fellow and receiving the Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Engineering. He was elected as a Fellow of IEEE, Institute of Electrical Electronics and Engineers, where he was an editor of the IEEE Communications Magazine and of the column “Gentle Diversions.” Sandy’s love of travel and teaching led to years of teaching abroad—in Graz, Austria, at the Technische Universität Graz and as a Fulbright scholar in Bangalore, India, at the Indian Institute of Science.

In addition to a passion for mathematics, Sandy had a lifelong love of music and played both clarinet and piano. He played the clarinet in quartets, at local venues, and in the community and oompah bands. In spite of the left-arm paralysis caused by his stroke, Sandy continued to play piano with one hand, playing weekly duets with friend Linda Fisher Smith; together, they belonged to Piano Connections, a group of retired pianists who meet and perform monthly. Sandy’s daily piano practice gave him great pleasure until just days before his death.

Despite his stroke, Sandy remained vibrant, charming, gentle, and kind. His optimism and perseverance in the face of life-changing adversity allowed him to continue an active life full of social, cultural, and academic interests, and travel in the US and abroad. For two decades, Sandy’s personal care assistants helped to keep him strong and active and enriched his life with youthful companionship.

Sandy leaves his wife of 32 years, Merilee Carlson Hill; daughters, Jessie Hill of New Haven, CT, Rosy Hill (Garry Scott) of Burlington, VT, and Greta Neunder (Red Robinson) of Brooklyn, NY; grandchildren, Samantha and Jack Scott, and Lily and Ada Goren; and sisters, Evelyn Spalding and Wendy Merriman.

If you wish, donations may be made to Northampton Community Music Center (NCMC), 139 South Street, Northampton, MA 01060. Until it’s safe to get together, please remember Sandy by listening to Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet.

Frederick Arthur Filios passed away peacefully Friday, August 7, 2020, with family by his side. He was born Oct. 30, 1918, in Westfield, to Teresa (Pagani) and Salvatore Filios (recent immigrants from Italy). Fred grew up in Westfield, graduating from Westfield High School in 1936. In his teen years he was a member of the 4-H club. He raised chickens and received many blue ribbons.

After high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, working in the National Forests for the Federal Government during the Great Depression.  Afterwards, to save for college he took jobs with Columbia Bicycle and Oleksak Lumber Co where he worked as a licensed boiler fireman. He was part of the first generation of his family to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from Stockbridge School of Agriculture (now UMass) in June 1942. Fred enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, formally entering after graduation. He was a radio operator for air transport command, stationed in Casablanca, Africa flying as a crew member primarily on C-47’s, and occasionally on B-17s.  In 1945 he was sent to California to transport supplies in the Pacific. He saw duty in both theatres of WWII.

Returning from the war, he was employed as a Soil Scientist for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service assigned to the Worcester, MA area. That is where he met his future wife, Norma Dick, at a square dance. They were married in June of 1952. They chose to settle in Amherst, MA, where they raised 8 children. Fred was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts, Knights of Columbus, an active parishioner at St. Brigid’s Church, choir member and an elected town meeting member.  In 1965, Fred accepted a job opportunity with International Resources and Geotechnics. This brought Fred, and eventually his family, to Panama where he mapped soils and taught Panamanian College students soil mapping. They returned to Amherst after a few years when they discovered their youngest child, Laurie, was profoundly deaf.

Rather than travel away from the family, Fred decided to use his Fireman’s license working at Amherst College. This led to a career as a steam engineer at the University of Massachusetts.  He retired from the University in 1982. This once again set him on a new path with his own company, Filios Enterprises Inc., doing percolation tests, septic system designs, and wetlands mapping until 1996.

In October of 2018 at his 100^th birthday party Fred was presented with the Boston Post Gold-Headed Cane for Amherst, signifying his status as the oldest living citizen of Amherst.

He will be deeply missed by his 8 children; Kathryn Finn of Amherst, Walter of Gulfport, Mississippi, Paul and wife Krys of Alexandria, Virginia, Teresa Korpita and husband John of Sunderland, William and wife Larissa of Malden, Marita Magnant and husband Gary of Topsfield, Elizabeth Tyler and husband William of Hadley, and Laurie Blanchard and husband Daniel of Southborough; his 20 grandchildren, Michael, Danette, Bridget, Socorro, and Teresa, children of Kathryn; Kimberly, Jason, Sarah, Paula, and Patrick, children of Paul; Ksusha and Marina, children of Teresa; Salvatore, son of William; Ross, Sage, and Grace, children of Marita; John and Kathryn, children of Elizabeth; and Georgieanna and Annabel, children of Laurie; and four great-grandchildren, Emili, Sophia, Jonathan, and Leonardo, from the Finn family; his sister Angela Haverly of Denville, New Jersey (age 106),  sister-in-law Marita Stratton of Lee (age 102), sister-in-law Judy Dick of Bradenton, Florida; and sister-in-law Marilyn Dick of Austin, Texas. He was predeceased by his wife Norma, brothers Dante, Luigi, Carlo, John, sisters Lena Hart, Ines Angell, and son-in-law John Michael Finn.

A private mass and burial will be held. A memorial service to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations to St. Brigid’s Church, 122 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01004, or to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, 45 Round Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060, www.ClarkeSchools.org.

Emma Weaver of 77 Enfield Road, Pelham, MA passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a short illness on July 23rd 2020.

Emma was born in Pelham on January 2, 1924. She was the daughter of the late George W. Burrows and Rose R. Burrows.

She was a 1941 graduate of Amherst High School. She worked at New England Telephone/Telegraph Company and retired from the University of Massachusetts in 1977.

She was also an active member of the former United Church of Pelham.

Emma was pre-deceased by her husband Lester R. Weaver, her son Robert L. Weaver, and her siblings Avis Weaver, Ruth Weaver, Rosamund Wills, Francena Bradley and Maurice Burrows.

Emma is survived by her daughter Lorraine R. Lynch of Pelham, son Michael J. Weaver of Pelham, her sister Everil Motuzas of Chicopee, 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

There will be a private viewing for the family at the Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, MA.

A public graveside service will be held at the Quabbin Memorial Park Cemetery in Ware, MA on Monday August 3, 2020 at 11:00AM. Masks and the practice of social distancing should be observed.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice

for their support and compassionate care.  It made this journey much easier.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Emma Weaver can be sent to:

Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice

PO Box 329

Northampton, MA 01061-0329

Muriel I. (Lafond) Gross, 95 of Shutesbury passed away peacefully at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, Massachusetts on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Muriel was born on April 4, 1925, in Huntington Massachusetts to Agnes Frances (Sanderson) Lafond and Charles Ernest Lafond. She graduated from Huntington High School.

She married her husband Robert C. Gross, Sr. in 1944. They moved to Shutesbury Massachusetts in 1947 a wonderful small town that she would call home for the rest of her life.

Muriel did her part to support the war effort during World War II, which included working at the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

After moving to Shutesbury, she worked briefly at the Shutesbury Post Office and worked at Dalton’s Diner in Amherst as a cook and waitress for 12 years.  She worked as the cafeteria manager at the Shutesbury Elementary school lovingly preparing lunches from scratch starting in 1963 until her retirement in 1985.  After enjoying retirement for many years, she worked part-time as a support staff person for National Evaluations Systems (NES) in Amherst (now Pearson).

Muriel cared for her town and community.  She had deep roots as a volunteer and was honored on September 25, 2010 for her many years of service to the town of Shutesbury.  Her volunteerism spans decades. She worked with the Shutesbury Police Department when situations involved women and children. She also worked closely with the Shutesbury Fire Department. She was one of several women trained to drive fire trucks to calls when needed to help the volunteer firefighters respond to calls more swiftly. She served on the committee for Shutesbury’s Bicentennial celebration.  She was a member of the Community Club for many years working on civic projects.  Muriel helped make the town’s annual Christmas celebration a success by making sure every child received a gift. She was involved with monthly suppers at the Shutesbury Athletic Club.  After her retirement, she managed the Senior Center lunch program and was a member of the Shutesbury Council on Aging for several decades.  

Muriel was an avid Red Sox fan, enjoyed knitting and crocheting, playing cards on a pitch league, bus trips, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter Judith Makepeace, her son Robert C. Gross, Jr. and his wife April Gross, of Topsfield, Maine. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jessica Makepeace, of Shutesbury, Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil and her husband Christopher O’Neil of Shutesbury, Tamra Harriman and her husband Jeffrey Harriman of Topsfield, Maine, and Robert A. Gross and his wife Shelly Gross of Mapleton, Maine.

She also leaves behind her great-grandchildren, Aubrie, RJ, Cole, Seth, Trevor and Travis. Also, a great-great-granddaughter on the way and many nieces and nephews. She leaves her beloved parakeet Pretty Bird.

Muriel predeceased by her siblings Chester Lafond, Charles Lafond, and William Lafond, Blanche Pero, Viola (Kondek) Clark, Gail Judecki, and Frances Bostic. Also son-in-law Reginald Makepeace.

A burial service and celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shutesbury Firefighter’s Association, PO Box 295, Shutesbury, MA 01072 or LifePath, 101 Munson Street Suite 201, Greenfield, MA 01301

Etta M. Walsh, a journalist, author, public relations practitioner, university lecturer, wife and mother died at the Charlene Manor Extended Care facility in Greenfield on July 28 after a two year long battle with breast cancer.

She was born in Central Falls, Rhode Island to the late Martin and Henrietta (Hapenny) Walsh, and graduated from Central Falls High School. Etta took advantage of the open enrollment policy at Rhode Island Junior College and then continued to the University of Rhode Island where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She then earned a masters degree in journalism at Boston University.

Her career in journalism centered on coverage of local news. Over the decades, Etta always seemed to find “great news towns” where she could find interesting stories that delighted her and her readers. Actually, it was Etta’s intelligence, openness and enthusiasm that found the stories no matter where she was assigned. She worked as a reporter for the Milford Daily News, the former Middlesex News of Framingham, the Springfield Republican and most recently for the Daily Hampshire Gazette. She also was a copyeditor for a few years at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Etta was a member of the adjunct faculty at the Northeastern University School of Journalism in Boston.

After retiring from journalism, Etta began a new chapter in her life as a volunteer at the Amherst Senior Center where she gained a new circle of friends and also became the president of the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center. She became an enthusiastic advocate for senior affairs in the Pioneer Valley. Also during her retirement years, Etta dedicated herself to writing four historical romance novels which await publication. Etta also enjoyed travel and spent vacation time in Dublin, Ireland, Paris, France and Quebec City, Canada.

Etta is survived by husband Dennis C. Vandal, a photographer and photojournalist, and a daughter, Tabitha Marie Vandal.  A brother, Martin Walsh, predeceased her three months ago.

The funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, any memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center, P.O. Box 933, Amherst, MA 01004-0933

On Monday, July 20, 2020, Faith Peak, 93, passed away peacefully at the Elaine Center in Hadley. She lived most of her life in Cambridge and Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Daughter of W. Burton and Marguerite Webster, Faith was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, David C. Peak. She is survived by her daughter Sarah Page and her husband Chris of Belchertown, and daughter Joy Harju and her husband Andrew and beloved grandson Blake of Wellesley.

Faith graduated from Brimmer and May School and attended Wheelock College. Before marriage, she worked at Harvard University and later supported her husband in managing Howard F. Peak and Sons Roofing.  Faith was also an administrative assistant in the guidance department at Cambridge, Rindge and Latin School. After settling in Hyannis in 1974, she worked for many years at Cape Cod Candies. 

She is remembered for her friendly and enthusiastic spirit, her thoughtfulness, and love of flower gardening and singing. She performed with the Handel and Hayden chorus in her younger years and enjoyed attending Boston Symphony concerts into her 80s.  While in Cambridge, she was a member of the Skating Club of Boston performing with her family in Ice Chips.  On the Cape, she was a member of the Hyannis Yacht Club where her family enjoyed boating and swimming.

Faith was a strong believer in prayer and the power of love.  As a young woman, she was a member of The First Church of Christ Scientist in Cambridge and in Natick later in life. While raising her family, she was active in the First Parish in Cambridge and in the First Baptist Church of Hyannis and its Women’s Fellowship.

A private memorial service will be held at Oak Grove cemetery in Hyannis. Memorial gifts may be made to: the Boston Symphony, https://www.bso.org/Forms/Donation  or the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, https://masshort.org/support/donate/.

Joanne Mary Rella died July 22, 2020 at age 69. She is not quite sure where her journey will now take her.

Joanne leaves behind her intimate loved ones, her husband, Robert Brooks of Amherst, daughters, Shubhada Rella-Brooks of Hadley and Ketaki Rella-Brooks of Springfield, grandsons Ravi Drake and Theodore Oakes-Rooney of Hadley, siblings John Rella and his wife Pat of Hadley and Elizabeth Mirra and her partner John of Yonkers, NY, and close friends in the Valley and across the United States. She was predeceased by her parents, Maria and Onofrio Rella, and siblings Vincent, Charles, James and Lucia Rella.

Joanne valued her relationships with people more than anything. Sharing a story, appreciating nature together, and feeling the oneness of spirit was her sometimes elusive but ever satisfying experience. She touched many people’s lives through both her personal and professional life as a mother, friend, special education teacher, counselor, and neighbor. Joanne felt enriched by the lives of those around her. Her life embraced an awareness and involvement in the world and in her community to strive towards a higher quality existence for all.

Joanne loved gardening, hiking and camping, listening to music, art museums and galleries, and being with family and friends. She knew that her soul could resonate during these activities when her mind would become still.  She sought truth and oneness in her life. She lived each day trying to remember her commitment to being in the moment. Needless to say, she started her day over many times.

Joanne will be cremated. Family and friends will gather at future dates to share their memories of Joanne and to spread her ashes in favored natural areas. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Joanne’s name should consider the Alzheimer’s Association, Cooley Dickenson Hospital, or Hospice at the Fisher Home.

Jean E. Joy, 80 passed away peacefully on Sunday July 12, 2020 at Elaine Center At Hadley, after a long battle with Dementia.

Jean was born on November 14, 1939 in Ware, MA to Adeline and William Otis. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1957. After the death of both her parents, she moved to Amherst along with her younger brother Bill, to reside with their aunts.

She married her husband Robert on April 23, 1960 at St. Brigid’s Church in Amherst.  She was a communicant of St. Brigid’s Church. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella.

She worked as a Paraprofessional for 36 years in Kindergarten, First and Second Grade-Special Education, at Wildwood Elementary School in Amherst. She also worked at Amherst College-Special Functions for many years, alongside her husband Robert, and daughter Colleen.

Upon retirement, she would often be taking care of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed going to lunch with  “The Lunch Bunch”, from Wildwood Elementary School. 

She is survived by her daughter Colleen Erickson and husband Donald, of Amherst. Her son Kevin Joy and his fiancee, Pamela Barnett of Amherst. She was predeceased by her husband Robert, her son John, her brother William(Bill) and her Mother-In-Law, Helen Joy.

She is also survived by her former Sister- In-Law, Maureen Martula as well as her former Daughter-In-Law, Karen Carmona and her husband Mariano.

She leaves behind seven granchildren. Connor Erickson, Owen Ebbs and John, Jennifer, Brigid, Lauren and Kelly Joy.

She also leaves behind her nephew Jeff Otis, and his wife Michelle of Easthampton. Her niece Shannon Burke and her husband Bryan of Hadley, and several great nieces and nephews. 

Jean was a compassionate person, and was always caring for one family member or another.

She also loved corresponding back and forth, with some of her former students at Wildwood Elementary School.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will held be Friday July 17, 2020, 10:00 am at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to, St. Jude’s Research Hospital or Hospice Compassus.

Dr. Frederick Charles Tillis, musician, composer, performer, poet, arts advocate and administrator, director emeritus of the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center (FAC) and co-founder and director emeritus of its Jazz in July program – died at age 90 on Sunday, May 3, 2020 from hip replacement surgery complications after a fall. Dr. Tillis served as music department faculty, associate provost, associate chancellor for equal opportunity and diversity and the Fine Arts Center director for nearly 20 years but even in retirement remained connected to the music department and the Fine Arts Center, their staffs, and community. His passion and commitment for the arts and arts education extended well beyond each university community where he taught, touching and enriching lives throughout the world.
A performer and composer of unusual breadth, Dr. Tillis’ work profoundly shaped the cultural and musical life of UMass Amherst, the Pioneer Valley, and far beyond. His work spans the jazz, European, and African-American spiritual traditions, and encompasses an expansive range of diverse references with dynamic melodic and harmonic textures. His more than 100 compositions include works for piano and voice, orchestra and chorus, solo and chamber music. He authored the textbook entitled Jazz Theory and Improvisation and authored 15 books of poetry.
Dr. Tillis was born on January 5, 1930 in Galveston, Texas. His mother was Zelma Bernice Gardner and his stepfather was General Gardner. His musical talents were recognized at a very early age. At 12, he began to play jazz trumpet and saxophone professionally in local Galveston clubs, known as Baby Tillis because many adult musicians served in World War II. He was a graduate of the public Galveston schools including Central High School, the first Texas high school created for African Americans during segregation. Dr. Tillis enrolled at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas when he was only 16, beginning his teaching career while earning his bachelor’s degree. He was an honored member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity organization. Immediately upon graduating from Wiley at the age of 19, he returned there to teach, embarking upon a long career in music education. Dr. Tillis received his master’s degree from the University of Iowa under Dr. Philip Bezanson in 1952. After a four-year stint in the United States Air Force, where he conducted the Air Force band, he then resumed teaching at Wiley and North Texas State before returning to earn his Ph.D at the University of Iowa. From 1964 to 1970, Dr. Tillis taught at Grambling University and Kentucky State University respectively. As a young professor, he played the clarinet, the viola, and the piano in addition to the trumpet and saxophone. He also continued directing marching bands and orchestras. He was recruited by Dr. Bezanson to teach full time at UMass Amherst in 1970.
While at UMass, Dr. Tillis founded numerous programs and courses of study that greatly enriched campus life. In 1978, he was appointed the director of the Fine Arts Center and helped start some of the university’s most successful arts initiatives, including the Jazz and Afro-American Music Studies programs, Jazz in July Summer Music program, New World Theater, Black Musicians Conference, Bright Moments Festival, Augusta Savage Gallery and the Asian Arts and Culture Program. He represented the UMass Music Department and the university as a cultural ambassador, performing locally, nationally and internationally with students, alumni and faculty such as Salvatore Macchia, Jeffrey Holmes, Nadine Shank, Richard du Bois, Estella Olevsky, David Sporny, and Horace Clarence Boyer. He traveled with the University of Massachusetts Music Department, the Tillis-Holmes Jazz Duo and the Tradewinds Jazz Ensemble to several countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the former Soviet Union, Switzerland, and Turkey. During his career, he also taught music courses at Amherst College.
Among his commissioned compositions are “Ring Shout Concerto” for percussion, written for Max Roach and premiered by Max Roach and symphony orchestra (1974); “Concerto for Trio Pro Viva” commissioned by the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and D. Antoinette Handy (1980); “Concerto for Piano” (Jazz Trio) and symphony orchestra written for Billy Taylor and performed with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (1983); “A Festival Journey” written for Max Roach and commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Shaw (1992); and “A Symphony of Songs,” a choral/orchestral work based on poems by Wallace Stevens and commissioned by The Hartford Chorale, Inc. (1999). His recordings include The Tillis-Holmes Jazz Duo, Contrasts and Diversions (1987); Paintings in Sound for Solo Saxophone (1989); Among Friends with the Billy Taylor Trio (1992); Freedom (1996); Festival Journey Concerto with Max Roach and the New Orchestra of Boston (1998); and Frederick Tillis – Music for Peace and Goodwill (2005).
Dr. Tillis has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the UMass Distinguished Faculty Lecturer’s Award, the 1997 Commonwealth Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, outstanding service award from the International Association of Jazz Educators, commendations from UMass Jazz and African-American Studies Program, UMass Afro-American Studies Department, WFCR, Wiley College, Old Central Cultural Center and Reedy Chapel Church in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Tillis received a Rockefeller Foundation grant, a National Endowment for the Arts grant in composition, two United Negro College Fund fellowships, and was a Danforth Associate. Dr. Tillis was an influential educator, helping to establish the jazz studies programs at both the University of Fort Hare, South Africa and the Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and served on several cultural boards including the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Massachusetts Council on the Arts, and review committees at the National Endowment for the Arts. Upon his retirement from UMass in 1997, Dr. Tillis was awarded the honorific title emeritus director of the Fine Arts Center. He continued performing, composing, lecturing, and writing until recent years. The W.E.B. Du Bois Library maintains the Frederick Tillis papers, which document his extraordinary career.
Dr. and Mrs. Tillis were active and committed members of the Amherst community for decades. They participated in many local initiatives and were longtime philanthropists for numerous cultural and educational organizations locally and nationally including the University of Massachusetts, the ABC House, Jones Library, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton Community Music Center, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, University of Iowa, Wiley College, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the United Negro College Fund, the NAACP, the American Composers Alliance, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.
Dr. Tillis is pre-deceased by his parents, Zelma Bernice Gardner and General Gardner; his wife and partner of 66 years, Edna Louise; and is survived by his daughters Patricia and Pamela; nieces Edna Louise Richards, Janet Levingston-Williams Lawrence, and Glendra Gunishaw-Johnson; nephew Marshall Gunishaw III; son-in-law Paul Hammacott; longtime family friends Helen and James Smith, and several great nieces and nephews. Dr. Tillis was laid to rest at Wildwood Cemetery on Friday, May 8, 2020. A public celebration is planned for a future date. A memorial page has been established online at www.fineartscenter.com/Tillis where people can visit to leave remembrances. The Tillis Family so warmly thanks all of Dr. Tillis’ legions of friends, colleagues, students, and admirers. We feel your outpouring of love and thank you so dearly for your kindnesses. A special thank you to Ester Bedford, Rosangela Marquez, Kay Montgomery, and Marie Hess for their loving care of Dr. Tillis.