Farewell to the ultimate “behind-the-scenes guy”
Bob Gill (courtesy of Amy Candello)
On July 3, Bob Gill — probably the state of Oregon’s top sports historian — died from the effects of brain cancer. He was 83.
“He gave it a great fight to the end,” says his daughter, Amy Candello.
Indeed Gill did. In March 2018, he was diagnosed with a stage-four malignant brain tumor. He handled many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments with courage and dignity.
Few people enjoyed sports more than Gill, a life-long Portlander who was a Jefferson High quarterback before Terry Baker, played Rook ball at Oregon State and was a fine handball player in his latter years.
“It started out as an outlet for him as a child to get involved,” Candello says. “He was athletic, and he took the passion of it through his life. He embraced it. He loved all sports.
“And he loved the historian part of it, the opportunity to research the history of sports and of people.”
Gill supported sports, and he supported people. He was quick to offer kind words to me about many stories I wrote through the years.
“He was an encourager,” Candello says. “That’s the word that comes to mind about Dad. I’m hearing that from a lot of handball players who played with him, how encouraging he was.”
Last September, I wrote a story about Gill on his well-deserved induction in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. I’m reposting that now to offer a final tribute to a very giving man here.
We’ll miss you, Bob.
Readers: do you have any favorite memories about Bob Gill? Share your comments below.
Reach out to Kerry Eggers here.
