Queens, New York: Cliff Gillman, a beloved hockey coach and mentor in the Cheshire community, passed away unexpectedly on February 6, 2025, at 41.
He was renowned as Coach French Fry and left behind his wife, Destiny, and two children, Tyler and Maddie.
Highlights
- Cliff Gillman passed away at 41 on February 6, 2025, but his family hasn’t revealed his death cause.
- He married Destiny in September 2015 and had two children, Tyler, born in 2016, and Maddie, born in 2019.
- Only his unwavering love for the family could surpass his dedication to coaching.
Cliff Gillman was an adventurous and athletic child who found a love for hockey at a young age. His passion for sports developed while attending Trinity-Pawling Prep School.
Similarly, he developed an interest in business, finance, and literature and earned a master’s degree in English and a master’s in business administration.
After graduation, he became a treasury manager at AAA Northeast and was passionate about coaching young players.
The beloved hockey coach devoted his attention to his family and supported children in their love of sports in the community. He coached aspiring players throughout Connecticut and New York for the last two decades.
Cliff Gillman’s Family Mourns The Tragic Loss
Cliff C. Gillman, the son of Cliff and Kathy Gillman, was born on May 31, 1983, in Queens, New York. His parents raised him alongside his brother, Chris, in Mahopac, New York.
He was deeply devoted to his family, and his sudden passing left a significant void in the hearts of many who knew him.
Cliff played hockey, spent time with his family, coached, and played with the neighborhood kids on his last day, doing what he enjoyed most. However, his family has yet to disclose his death cause.
He leaves a great legacy in his community, along with huge friends and relatives. He touched the lives of many, and they are grateful for the chance to know and love him.
His parents, wife, children, brother, niece, nephews, close friends, and family survive him. He had a great bond with his in-laws, Mark Tyler, Michelle Tyler, Eric Tyler, Maureen Tyler, and his sister-in-law, Ariana Gillman.
Furthermore, Jared Martin organized a GoFundMe fundraiser on behalf of Destiny Gillman to help with immediate expenses, including funeral costs, household expenses, and support for Tyler and Maddie.
Their goal was to raise $25,000, but Cliff’s impact on the community helped them to garner over $54,000.
Cliff was a true leader who had given so much to the community, and his impact reached far beyond the hockey rink.
It is with a heavy heart that we share the very sad news that one of our coaches Cliff Gillman passed away unexpectedly last night. We ask the you to keep his family, players and his fellow coaches in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.
Junior Bulldogs Midget Hockey
Nonetheless, Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes provided the funeral services, and his celebration of life is on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, in Cheshire.
Cliff Gillman’s Love For His Family Could Surpass His Dedication To Coaching
The beloved hockey coach, Cliff Gillman, fell in love at first sight with Destiny, bonding immediately over their love of dogs, hiking, and a shared vision of what a future family should look like.
They have been inseparable ever since, constantly working to show their love and creating a safe space for each other.
Cliff shared kindness with everyone but had an exceptional softness and tenderness with his partner. They inspired and supported each other to be the best versions of themselves.
The love birds planned their future immediately and married in September 2015. They welcomed their two children, Tyler, born in 2016, and Maddie, born in 2019, and moved to Cheshire, creating a safe space for all neighborhood kids.
Above all, Cliff was a father committed to his family’s happiness and well-being. He was over the moon to become a father and had been a constant pillar of strength and support.
He has coached his son at the Yale Youth Program for five years and his daughter at the Girls Cheshire Youth Soccer since she could walk. Likewise, he has coached the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth Lacrosse programs in Cheshire.
Tyler found courage in taking chances and creating a passion for all facets of life and became a real-life Superman. He is constantly following in his father’s footsteps,
On the other hand, Maddie was a daddy’s girl from the moment she first laid eyes on him. Cliff has given her the foundation she deserves, and she will continue to grow into an independent and brave girl.
Additional Information
- Cliff Gillman was an assistant manager and hockey coordinator at Danbury Ice Arena before joining BWP Distributors at CARQUEST.
- He worked as a Kaman Distribution and Alexion Pharmaceuticals treasury manager before joining AAA Northeast in August 2021.
