Beloved Cheshire Youth Coach Dies, Community Rallies Support

CHESHIRE, CT — The Cheshire community and beyond is mourning the loss of Cliff Gillman, a longtime area coach and father of two young children, who died unexpectedly last week.

Gillman, described in his obituary as an “adoring husband, devoted father, loving son and brother, cherished friend, teammate and coach to all,” died Thursday, Feb. 6 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,” the obituary reads.

Gillman coached aspiring hockey players throughout Connecticut and New York for the last two decades, according to his obituary. He coached his son at the Yale Youth Program for the past five years, and also coached in the Girls Cheshire Youth Soccer for his daughter, and the Boys and Girls Youth Lacrosse programs in Cheshire.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family with funeral expenses, along with future support for his children.

“Known to his players as ‘Coach French Fry,’ Cliff was not just a coach--he was a mentor, a role model, and a beloved figure in our hockey family,” a post on the GoFundMe page reads. “For so many of our kids, Cliff was one of the first voices they heard on the ice. From Learn to Skate to travel, he was there teaching them and pushing them to be their best. And while he had high expectations on the ice, he was a lovable jokester in the locker room afterwards.”

Gillman “gave so much to our community, and was a true leader in every sense of the word,” according to the post. “His impact reaches far beyond the rink, and his absence leaves a hole in all of our hearts.”

More than $57,000 has been raised within the first four days of the GoFundMe campaign (as of Friday afternoon).

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For more information, or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here.

Read the full obituary at Alderson-Ford Funeral Home here.