Birth date: Feb 12, 1925 Death date: Jan 10, 2026
Sidney ‘Sid’ Rogers Gilligan Jr.,100, passed away on January 10, 2026 in Murray, Utah. Sid was born on February 12, 1925 in the Bronx Borough of New York City and was the only child of Sidney Rogers Gilligan and Anna Maud Carlton Read Obituary
From Adam Roblyer:
I think it was the summer of 1984 or 85 when Sid asked me to hike the Pacific Crest Trial starting at the Mexican boarder. It was desert and very hot at first, but then became really beautiful as the weekends went by. I had to drop out for whatever reason but I know that he continued on. Not sure how far he got but I know that he went far as was his demeanor. Once he set his mind to something, he would see it through to the end.
One of the first times we all were at the cabin, I think it was 1988, Sid employed (or maybe we volunteered our limited expertise) Terry L., Terry P., Tim, and I to work on the plumbing in the crawl space under the house. We all had a good time doing this, using flux, solder, and a torch on the copper piping. Sid checked on us from time to time hardly saying a word. Once we were done, we checked it for leaks and there were none (I think). We were relieved and the only thing that he said was “Well, at least it works.” I am sure he wasn’t too impressed with our work.
Sid made THE BEST MEATLOAF! Every time we were invited for dinner, I hoped that we were having meatloaf. We did for the most part because he knew how much we loved it, but anything he cooked was usually pretty good. He was a good cook! We use his meatloaf recipe to this day!
Not growing up with a father, I very much respected Sid, and looked up to him, quite literally. He was a great influence to me/us. He helped us through some hard times, blessed us with his insight, and loved us as though we were his. After Sydney was born, at her baby blessing, he held her, and he had such love as you can see in his expression that we caught as Lisa posted.
Thank you Mark, Matt and Tom, for sharing your Dad, this important man, with us!
I am so truly grateful to have had Sid in my life. I wish I was able to have spent more time with him but will forever cherish the year me and mother lived with Sid & Grandma in San Diego. We moved down there from up North when I was around 8 years old (1980?). Sid was the first and still is one of the most important men in my life; he was the first impression of what a good man is. I was fatherless and my mother didn't bring men around. Sid was literally the first father figure in my life and what a great one to have had! He is such a part of who I am and how I grew to perceive the world & family relationships. It was so impactful and beautiful to witness him and Grandma together, it really taught me a lot and helped me understand what I want in a relationship. They were so delightful to witness and seeing them find each other in their elder years gave me a perspective that regardless of age God can bring two together; they were the cutest peas in a pod. I also was blessed to witness the grace and love bestowed to David. The dedication, devotion and love that I experienced forever changed me in the best of ways, I am so full of gratitude. I also have the fondest memories of going to the Wyoming cabin when I was 18 for one week. It was the only family reunion I have been able to attend and it meant the world to me, so special. Thank you Sid, thank you for making so much possible and for the influence you have had on my life. Thank you for being a part of our family.
Sid touched so many lives; He was gift to us all as well as to this world and will always live inside my heart <3
Sid was my Hero.
There were many times in my life when he stepped up for me when there was no one to help. He bridged the gap. He was loving, considerate and kind. The real deal. Unconditional love.
Matt, if not for your father I would have fallen and not been able to get up.
Your father was my Hero.
He loves Jesus with his whole heart and soul.
He was a father to me and my faithful friend.
We became very close. I treasure him and my precious memories of him.
(his meatloaf and gazpacho remain unsurpassed)
WISDOM OF SOLOMON 3:1
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them. In the sight of the unwise they appeared to die and their end was thought grievous and their departing from us destruction but they are in peace. And though they suffer pain before men yet is their hope in immortality. They are punished but in few things yet in many things shall they be rewarded, for God proveth them and findeth them mete for himself. He trieth them as gold in the furnace and receiveth them as a perfect fruit offering. And in the time of their vision they shall shine and run through like the sparks among the stubble. They shall rule the nations and have dominion over the people and their Lord shall reign forever.
LIGHT A CANDLE FOR ME
Light a candle for me
I will be there for you
Life is not what it seems
depends on your point of view
I never really left you
Though it seems like I am gone
so I'll try to talk to you
best as I can in this song
Love never dies
Only dreaming
Flesh will pass
Your soul comes home
It's all right where it's suppose to be
and before you know you'll be here with me
I will always love you
please don't cry
Life is short
No goodbye
Live your life full
Life's a blessing
Your in school and not through testing.
Light a candle for me.
Grandpa Sid has been a constant my entire life. I remember watching him patiently tend to grandma’s needs above his own and hearing about how he cared for
David and other members of the family. He is an example of what a man should be. So constant and unfailing and faithful. He made the cabin a magical place. I remember grandma and grandpa visiting SLC throughout my teenage years. They would always stay in my room. And I could always count on my room being left perfectly clean with a note of love from the both of them left on my desk when they departed. I was also so impressed by his loving care of Mark, even when it was so difficult for him.
But of all the memories I think the ones I will cherish the most is when I, for a change, got to serve him. These last serval years were so hard on him. He did not love having to leave his beloved condo and friends, he struggled with his mind not being as sharp as it had always been, and he was many times very lonely. I loved that every time I would call for a visit he would readily agree. I will miss seeing him always looking dapper in his perfectly ironed collared shirts with his notepad in the front pocket, and his “side holster” with his flashlight and pocketknife. I will treasure his emails of thanks after a meal at my house. I loved seeing him show interest in my children and asking them questions about their day. I loved our lunches together and listening to opera in the car (he loved opera!). He was always so grateful. But mostly, I will miss him. What a wonderful, wonderful man. We are all better for knowing him ♥️
Dad,
I remember the day we went to the marina and we all got on the corporate yacht and we all got sick. Mom and I started throwing up over the side of the boat and you, even though you were as green as a frog, you stayed stoic. You dropped us off at the nearest little dock but you stayed on that yacht with your friend.
When I lived with you and mom for that year I worked in Teton Village, you invited me to go along with you and mom to the temple in Idaho Falls. You knew I tended to idolize you so you spent the two hour trip explaining all of the mistakes you'd made a father and that I was wrong to admire you. You explained that you'd been such a dry father to your own children and how badly you felt about that. You though that in spite of your bad example and failings your boys had turned out to make you proud. You always bragged about your boys and their individual qualities. I loved to listed and learn and would ask you to tell me more. Your attempt to try to dissuade me from my good opinion of you only strengthened it.
It didn't matter what time it was or how inconvenient the request was, you were always very fast to respond to someone's need.
Mom and I were addicted to yard sales. I remember that when we drove anywhere, if we spotted a garage sale and we'd start to tell you to stop, you would put your foot on the gas so that you could pretend you accidentally passed it. You would continue this pattern as often as you could without being too obvious. I would snicker in the back seat and mom would just look befuddled. Then she started putting on a sad face hoping to guilt him into stopping at some. Eventually it worked and he would stop at one or two. He knew that letting mom out to shop meant hours of waiting. If he didn't have patience before, he sure learned it with mom. I have too many memories to tell but they are all wonderful because you are wonderful. I miss you already. I'll be there soon...make sure you make some meatloaf for me. Shandra.
I have so many cherished memories:
-Him ordering egg benedict for breakfast at a cute cafe we went with him and my parents.
-Him mowing the lawn so the grandkids could plan sardines
- I was awkward grandkid that sometimes got left out but I always felt seen with Grandpa Sid.
- My daughter baby blessing was a couple of months after grandma jeannine passed away and he brought a dark complexion baby doll from her collection of baby dolls to give to my sweet baby. It is still one of her favorite dolls to hold and love on.
- So many cherished memories of his quiet, strong, service example to all of us. But one I hold the dearest is Him written me an email/letter when I was leaving my husband and moving across the country. He wrote of support , love, and strength. I was scared, sad, and defeated but his words brought more strength then anything at the time. I did feel judged or a failure but someone who needed to pivot my life for my daughter and to take responsibility in my hands to improve her life. I love you Grandpa Sid!
I have so many wonderful memories with you, Grandpa.
Helping you and Grandma caulk the cabin in Wyoming when you both drove over from San Diego to work on the cabin, and we were living in the pink house. I hate fish, but boy, would I eat the shark stew you'd make. I remember playing Tetris on your computer before it was ever available to the rest of us. You let me play on your airplane/pilot simulation even though all I could do was poke at all the cockpit instruments. I flipped switches, pushed buttons, and pulled and pushed the throttle like a pro, even though you tried to teach me the basics of takeoff. I remember watching how slowly you ate your meals and how thoughtful you were before speaking. I remember thinking on many occasions, "I want to be like that." Everything you did just looked "smart."
I was not wrong.
The summer after I graduated from high school, my best friend and I decided to take a massive road trip across 6 states. One of those states was Wyoming, where we stopped for a couple of days at the cabin. Grandma was in a community play in Afton, and one evening, you drove us to watch another performance. When we got there, we both jumped out of the truck and headed inside the theater, but I noticed you stayed back, drawing on a napkin. I walked back to the driver's window and asked you what you were doing. You showed me a bunch of circuits you'd drawn, which you were redrawing as if trying to work out a puzzle. I'll never forget what you said, "A farmer in the Valley has a tractor that's having some electrical trouble. I'm trying to figure out the problem." Right then, I knew that all those times in San Diego when I'd watch you as a young girl, I'd nailed it. You WERE a genius! I will miss you, Grandpa. I hope you're able to fly for real now.
