Farewell Miss Gillen: A former Peace Corps teacher at St. Mary’s College

A tribute from Samoa

N.A. “Gil” Gillen, 67, a longtime resident of Secaucus, NJ, died on March 10, 2015 in Columbia, New Jersey, surrounded by the family and friends whom she loved so dearly throughout her life.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Gil found science fascinating from a young age, and went on to earn her undergraduate degree in biology from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA in 1969.

Best known for her selflessness and commitment to serving others, it was no surprise that she joined the Peace Corps after graduation, and subsequently spent seven years teaching secondary school biology and science in the West Indies and Samoa.

Gil transitioned to a career in worker safety and health at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after returning to the United States, holding a number of positions during her 30-plus-year tenure there:

compliance officer, industrial hygienist, assistant regional administrator for federal operations and co-incident commander for OSHA Region II’s response to the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Over the years, she became an expert in training and educating staff about occupational tuberculosis and other blood-borne pathogens, streamlining the protection of hospital and nursing home workers, and writing compliance directives and guidelines used by OSHA to create national standards.

Over the course of her 16 years as an OSHA administrator, she prioritized the litigation of cases, testified in administrative hearings, served as a liaison to the Office of the Solicitor and coordinated various safety and health practicum teams.

Following 9/11, she played an integral role in protecting first-responder health, overseeing a sampling program, distributing personal protective equipment, identifying safety hazards and training firefighters to use respiratory protection in their search for remains at the World Trade Center site.

A dedicated philanthropist who supported countless causes and volunteered whenever the opportunity presented itself, Gil leaves behind a legacy of tireless giving and a deep love for all who knew her. She was passionate about gardening, world travel and the New York Giants. And, as anyone who watched Jeopardy with her quickly discovered, she knew ALL the answers. ~

Miss Gillen came to us at St Mary’s College as a young Peace Corp Volunteer in the 1970’s to teach general science and biology. She was not that much older than us but she was a great teacher making science colorful, engaging and exciting as in using different colored washing pegs to make up the DNA helix. Hanging up the washing was never the same thereafter.

Almost every morning Radio 2AP reported that “A convergence zone lies over Samoa.” We knew and could say that phrase in English so well - it was nothing. Until one day during science she asked what it meant.

We were stumped and said “Ia, well it’s the Samoan weather” and all sorts of lame answers. So then her arms flew up and we were taken on a most energetic journey into the atmosphere, with weather patterns and conditions leading up to tropical cyclones and hurricanes. Her ways of teaching always made us interested in learning.

As well she coached our very successful tennis team, baseball team and athletics squad. She was also very passionate in sports and urged us to train faithfully, have a good attitude, maintain good sportsmanship and within that mix; try our best to win! When we did win she was thrilled. One time at Apia Park when one of our athletes zoomed into the finish line she was so overjoyed and a loudspeaker announced “Miss Gillen, kindly move off the field!”

Amidst all that there were countless after school tutorials to get us through maths and science for NZ School Certificate and NZ UE ( University Entrance) Exams at the time as well as SAT –the American colleges admission exams.

Miss Gillen also introduced us to pizza, how to eat spaghetti – twirling it around a fork, her beloved New York giants (even when we did not understand American football) and St Patrick’s Day. In many ways Miss Gillen introduced us to American culture and she was so very much the proud American fulfilling all that the Peace Corps was about.

Even when she returned to America she maintained contact with the nuns and many of her 1970’s students at St Mary’s Vaimoso. She also came back for the St Mary’s Jubilee in 2006.

We remember people who have made a difference in our lives particularly those who volunteered to contribute to the development of a young and independent Samoa through education.

In remembering Miss Gillen we also remember many other Peace Corps, other volunteers, missionaries, aid workers and the like from different corners of the world – a world we now share even more closely as a global village. They made a difference because theirs was a service rendered without expectation of return and we are forever indebted.

We also remember how inspiring and enabling teachers can be, nurturing those under their care to fulfilling their potential;

to better their lives and the lives of others through education. We also pause and remember that teaching is indeed a noble profession and we take that nobility wherever we go. Fa’afetai Miss Gillen for being such a great teacher– ia manuia lau malaga, manatua pea oe.