Cliff C. Gillman

Clifford C. Gillman, adoring husband, devoted father, loving son and brother, cherished friend, teammate and coach to all, died suddenly on Thursday, February 6th at the age of 41. He spent his final day doing what he loved with those who he loved most: playing with the children in the neighborhood, spending quality time with his family, coaching, and playing hockey.

Cliff was born in Queens, NY on 5/31/1983 and spent the majority of his childhood in Mahopac, NY with his parents, Cliff and Kathy Gillman, and his brother, Chris Gillman. He was a quiet, adventurous and athletic child who found a love for hockey at a young age. Cliff attended Trinity Pawling Prep School, where his love for hockey and lacrosse continued to grow, as did his interest in literature, business and finance. Cliff received a Master’s Degree in English and a Masters in Business Administration, ultimately leading to his career as a treasury manager at AAA Northeast.

At home, Cliff devoted his attention to the two great loves of his life: his family and supporting children in their love of sports. Cliff found a passion for coaching at a young age and thrived in being able to share his love of sports with not only his children, but also children in the community. Cliff coached aspiring hockey players throughout CT and NY for the last 2 decades. He found himself coaching for Tyler and his teammates at the Yale Youth Program for the last 5 years, the Girls Cheshire Youth Soccer for Maddie since she could walk, and the Boys and Girls Youth Lacrosse programs in Cheshire.

If anything could have outstripped and outpaced his devotion for coaching, it was Cliff’s unwavering and overflowing love for Destiny and their children, Tyler and Maddie. He was a father above and before all else: kind, patient, frequently silly, always thoughtful, never anything less than absolutely committed to his family’s happiness and well-being.

For Cliff and Destiny, their love story was quick to unfold and never wavering. It was love at first sight, bonding immediately over their love of dogs, hiking, and a shared vision of love, commitment and what a future family should look like. They both remember “just knowing” after their first date. They were everything to one another, constantly working to show their love and creating a safe space in one another’s arms. Although Cliff shared a kindness with everyone he met, he shared a special softness - a tenderness with Destiny. It was with that tenderness that Cliff and Destiny inspired and supported each other to be the best versions of themselves. They started planning their future immediately - and made short work of an engagement and wedding planning. They were married in September 2015 and joyfully welcomed their children in 2016 and 2019. They moved to Cheshire and committed themselves to creating the house, the yard, the pool, and the safe space for all of the neighborhood kids.

How does one describe the relationship between a father and his children?

Cliff was over the moon to become a father and was ecstatic to have a little boy for his first child. For Tyler, Cliff was a constant pillar of strength and support. Through his love and stability, Tyler was able to be our real life “superman”, finding courage in taking chances and creating a passion for all facets of life. Tyler will always be Cliff’s best buddy, constantly found following in his footsteps while doing things around the house, performing yard work and playing sports.

They found comfort and joy in one another’s presence, sharing special moments of softness, ending each day snuggled up together while sharing the events of their day, laughing and being silly. Their connection was more than just a father-son bond, but a shared closeness that was indescribable. Cliff has nurtured a precious foundation for Tyler to thrive and grow to be an amazing and loving person, like his father.

Cliff could not have been more nervous and genuinely more ecstatic to welcome our second baby, this time a girl. For Maddie, her Daddy was her everything. She will always be her Daddy’s girl, and has been since the moment she first laid eyes on him. She found comfort in his arms and strength in his presence. From the moment he held her, his ability to expand his love to delicately grow the confidence in his daughter allowed her to grow and shine. Cliff embraced being the cheerleader at her dance recitals, the receiver of nightly salon makeovers and was her favorite guest at Maddie’s tea parties. They shared a special attachment, finding comfort and joy in their moments of togetherness, savoring long embraces and the special giggles that only Daddy could inspire in her. Cliff has given Maddie a foundation on which she knows the love that she is deserving of: one that is constant, whole-hearted and stable. Because of him, Maddie has and will continue to grow into an independent, loving, confident and brave girl.

In addition to his wife and children, Cliff is survived by his parents, Cliff and Kathy Gillman; his brother, Chris Gillman and sister-in-law, Ariana Gillman; his in-laws, Mark Tyler, Michelle Tyler, Eric Tyler, Maureen Tyler and his niece and nephews, whom he adored tremendously, Brady and Shepard Gillman, and Luke and Abigail Tyler. He also leaves behind a wealth of family and friends, as well as an immense legacy in his community as a whole. Cliff has touched the lives of so many people and we are all so grateful to have gotten the chance to know and love him.

Arrangements - A celebration of Cliff’s life will take place Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from 5 to 8pm at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home in Cheshire (615 S. Main St). At 8pm a brief tribute to Cliff will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to his children’s educational fund by making checks payable to Destiny and sent to the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home, c/o The Gillman Family, 615 S. Main St., Cheshire, CT 06410.