Richard Bellamy Gilbert was born in the Middletown, New York area, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1945. He was a ward of the county until, at age 6 mos., he was adopted by Frederic B. Gilbert, III and Eleanor T. Gilbert of Staten Island, NY. He entered eternal rest on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
Dick attended P.S. 36. He was active in the music program at Messiah Lutheran Church, where was confirmed and later ordained. At the start of High school he began umpiring baseball and refereeing basketball. He officiated a New York City Little League championship when he was 14 and, 52 years later, hung up his whistle working 6 varsity games in the state tournament of Illinois.
He graduated from Tottenville High School in 1962 and went on to Capital University in Columbus, OH. He was active in student ministries, studied organ in the Conservatory of Music, and graduated in 1966. He graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 1970 with a Master’s degree.
At college Dick met Sharon Maier and they married in 1968. Their only child, Allison, was born in 1971.
He served two parishes in Ohio and then began clinical training as a hospital chaplain in Dayton, OH followed by a full clinical residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He served hospitals in Burlington, IA, Valparaiso, IN. and Elgin, IL. He retired from chaplaincy in 2006. He received advanced credentials and published 4 books, contributed to 6 other books, spoke throughout the United States with stops in Canada, the U.K., and Greece. He earned D.Min. and PhD degrees. During these years he took courses (and later taught at) The Graduate Theological Foundation, doing his course work and thesis at Oxford University. He helped expand a now international network and support system for the bereaved and training for those who provided their care. He taught medical ethics in person and online at Benedictine College, Mercy College of New York and Carl Sandburg.
Dick leaves to mourn him his wife of 54 years, Sharon, daughter Allison Broadfield, son-in-law Arlen Broadfield; grandsons Andrew and Adam Broadfield, sister, Barbara (William) Walsh; sisters-in-law Annette Maier and Billie Maier, step-grandchildren, cousins, nephews and one niece.
Cremation will be accorded. Visitation with the family will be held Friday, December 9, 2022 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel on West Fremont Street. A memorial service will be conducted by Pr. Katie Gallagher at Faith Lutheran Church, Wataga, Illinois on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 11 a.m. Memorials made be made to Galesburg Noon Rotary, Toulon Rehabilitation and Healthcare, or Faith Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
