Philip W. Gilroy

Philip William Gilroy, Sr., born October 25, 1924, son of the late Leo P. Gilroy and Dorothy (nee Lownes), passed away peacefully on January 15, 2021 at the age of 96. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Eris Eugenia (nee Norton), to whom he was married for 64 years before her passing at age 88 on May 22, 2012, and his younger brothers Robert L. (Judy), and Peter O. He is survived by his four children Margaret Ann Gilroy-Styburski (Frank Styburski) and his son David, Theresa Christine Floodstrand and her daughter Michelle Therese, Eugenia Eris Gilroy, and Philip W. Gilroy Jr. (Christina) and their children Andriana Eris (fiancé Michalis Filippou), Alexandra Christina (Cornelius Bouknight), and Philip Gerasimos (Bridget).

Phil was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Clemson University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. He was a veteran of the Second World War (serving in the Navy from 1943-1945), and the Korean War (serving in the Army from 1950-1953). For the majority of his career, he worked as a hospital administrator for the Catholic hospital system, which led him to serve in several hospitals across the country, including Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana, and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Phil retired as CEO of St. Elizabeth Hospital in 1988.

He was a longtime active member of the Chicago Logan Square Lions Club beginning in 1982, serving as its’ President from 1992-93.

As a child he became fascinated with aviation. When he enlisted in the Navy, he pursued flight training. After the war, he maintained this interest and flew with friends and in clubs. He shared this love with his family and took them on many trips to airshows, museums, and Oshkosh fly-ins. Even in his eighties, long after his pursuit of a solo license he enjoyed flying; his children arranged a glider ride for Father’s Day.

Throughout his life, he was interested in photography and did a stint working with a wedding photographer earlier in his career. He remained a serious enthusiast and collector and passed this interest on to his children and grandchildren.

He was an avid reader in a broad range of areas including aviation, photography, classic literature, history/politics, and science/technology. He learned to cook from his wife and developed this into a culinary hobby focusing on ethnic dishes, which he made frequently for his family. He was “into” craft and foreign beers before they were widely popular. Woodworking and stamp collecting were also among his many lifelong interests.

Phil was loved by his close and extended family alike and he was widely respected by his work associates and friends.  He will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly asks that donations in his memory be made to:

Catholic Charities of Chicago (https://www.catholiccharities.net/Default.aspx). Click “Donate” or call the contact telephone listed.
Chicago Logan Square Lions Club. Please make checks payable to “Chicago Logan Square Lions Club” and direct them by mail to the club treasurer:  Chicago Logan Square Lions Club, c/o Lion Bob Hoffmann, 6403 Hoffman St., Morton Grove, Illinois, 60053

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.