Gillette John
Father of Peter C. Gillette

   








February 06. 2014 7:17PM

John H. Gillette


With his family by his side, John H. Gillette passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014.


John H. Gillette

John H. Gillette



With his family by his side, John H. Gillette passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014.


He was preceded in death by his son Peter, parents Scott and Alene Gillette, sister Alice and husband Wanton Cory, and sister Ella and husband Phillip Reitano.


John is survived by his wife of 70 years, Doris, son Scott, daughter Sally and husband Stuart Kahn, and grandsons Cameron and Tucker Kahn as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.


Born in Scott County, N.Y., in 1916, he grew up on a farm, graduated from Cortland High School in 1935 and from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Chemistry in 1939. Soon after graduating from college, John went to work for DuPont and worked in military explosives in New Jersey, Illinois and Alabama until he came to Oak Ridge in August 1943.


He worked at X-10 on the Graphite Reactor and was involved with the loading of the Reactor in November 1943 when it went critical. He was a part of the original group of people brought here to work on the secret Manhattan Project. In 1944, he transferred to Hanford Engineer Works in Richland, Wash., where he remained until 1946. He returned to Oak Ridge and was with ORNL as Superintendent of the Isotopes Division. He retired from ORNL in 1981.


He loved tennis, boating, and a good Zane Grey or Louis L’Amour novel, building furniture and tinkering in his workshop, and gardening. He also enjoyed working in clay and weaving beautiful and unique baskets. He was active in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and volunteered for Oak Ridge Habitat for Humanity, Recording for the Blind, and the American Museum of Science and Energy.


John was well respected by all who knew him and he was dearly loved by his family and friends. His presence will be missed.


His family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to his doctors and the extraordinary caregivers and nurses who looked after him with such kindness during his illness.


A Memorial Service will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Oak Ridge, on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, at 2 p.m. Please join the family for a reception at the church following the service.


In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to your favorite charity or to St. Stephen’s Memorial Garden.




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