Don Gillis 1922-2008

Don Gillis, former sports director for the WHDH (when it was Boston's CBS affiliate until 1972)/WCVB (an ABC affiliate since then) and host of Candlepin Bowling on Saturdays, passed away at the age of 85.

Candelpin Bowling was a staple at my grandparent's house, as every Saturday afternoon my grandmother would be serving my grandfather lunch, and he'd dip his sandwich into his tea. My uncle also bowled on Candlepin Bowling back in the eighties, against Hugh Ferguson, and I can also remember as clear as yesterday Tom Olzsta rolling four consecutive strikes.

No word yet if the pallbearers will be in a half-Worcester formation, but Don would certainly laugh at it if he did.

UPDATE: Joe Fitzgerald from the Boston Herald details Gillis' service in the Navy, and was there the day the Japanese surrendered and ended World War II.

Ashmont Discount RIP

My father was a frequent customer at Ashmont Discount Home Improvement Stores in the 80s and 90s, but the store finally closed down around 2002-2004 because everyone else found
Lowe's and Home Depot to be much better.

Thus, the trucks and cranes duly rendered the store into rubble, and a mini-Staples will rise in its place. I like Staples - I consider it a toy store for geeks and admins - and it'll be easier just to take the Route 50 bus to get my allotment of rubber erasers and funky calculators, but I can bet you that my Dad is looking for a few drill bits and masking tape at the Ashmont Discount in the beyond.