James Gillett

James A. Gillett, MD, 97, of Bleecker St. , Utica, NY passed away Thursday, May 12, 2011 at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, New Hartford, following a brief illness.

He was born May 7, 1914 in Surrey , England , a son of the late Sidney and Rosa Hamilton Gillett. He received his early education in England and began his study of medicine at Guys Hospital at the University of London . He continued his education at the University in Edinburgh , Scotland where he received a degree in tropical medicine. He later graduated from Johns Hopkins Hospital with degrees in Public Health and Psychiatry. He married Monica Collen-Jones in Banstead , England . She predeceased him on March 19, 1999.

Dr. Gillett began his distinguished medical career serving with the Colonial Medical Service in Honduras . From there, he went to Botswana , Africa and practiced in the local hospital where his duties extended to all aspects of hospital care. Moving to Alberta , Canada , he worked in public health for Standard Oil (now Exxon). His career took him to Perth , Australia where he went into family practice, then on to work in public health in Fairbanks , Alaska . Dr. Gillett later moved to Washington State , where he practiced family medicine and received a grant to study psychiatry at Johns Hopkins. He became the Director of the Soule Clinic, a division of Crouse Hospital in Syracuse ; was Commissioner of Mental Health for Oswego County ; worked at VA hospitals in the western United States , and was the State Hospital Director of Psychiatric Services in Provo , UT until his retirement. Following that, he continued to do LOCUMS until he retired for a second time at the age of 88.

Dr. Gillett was a life long Episcopalian.

Surviving are his children, the Rev. Elizabeth R. H. Gillett of Hamilton , NY ; Kathryn M. H. G. and Richard Hasard of Blowing Rock, NC; Antony W. H. and Lee Gillett of Troy , MI ; and Susan M. H. Gillett of Baltimore , MD. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Christopher and Kerrie McNell of Boliver , NY ; Collette NcNell of Blowing Rock, NC; Andrew and Marina Gillett of Bloomfield Hills , MI and Nicholas Gillett of Los Altos , CA ; great-grandchildren, Kyla and Sean McNell and Marley McNell; and many nieces and nephews in England , South Africa and New Zealand .

Memorial Services will be held at 11am Tuesday, May 17, 2011 from St. Thomas ’ Episcopal Church, 12-1/2 Madison St. , Hamilton , NY .

Interment will be in All Saints’ Anglican Church Cemetery , Banstead, Surrey , England .

Contributions in his memory may be made to the St. Thomas Church ; or to the Wm. R. McNeiece III Foundation, PO Box 356 , Hamilton , NY 13346

Arrangements have been entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 25 Broad St. , Hamilton , NY .

The Gillett family would like to offer a special thanks to Dr. Gillett’s caregiver, Beverly Harrigan; the Director and Staff of Wiley Hall at the Masonic Care Community in Utica ; and the doctors and staff of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare.