By Flint McColgan
Boston Herald
BOSTON — John Gill, a longtime leader of Boston Emergency Medical Services, has died. He was 61.
Gill, who died Saturday, served with Boston EMS for what would have been 40 years next month, having joined on June 25, 1986, according to the agency.
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He was promoted to paramedic in 1991, to deputy superintendent in 2003, and to his final role as superintendent-in-chief — the department’s second in command under Chief James Hooley — in 2020.
“John faithfully served this department for nearly 4 decades, dedicating his entire career to the mission of providing the highest standard of prehospital care to the people of Boston,” Boston EMS wrote in a statement announcing his passing.
“John’s decades of service, leadership, and institutional knowledge leave an enduring mark on Boston EMS. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones, friends, and colleagues as they remember his life and his longstanding dedication to the department,” the statement continued.
During his career, Gill served on Ambulance 13, Ambulance 5, and Paramedic 16, according to Boston EMS, “where he built a reputation for reliability, depth of knowledge, and dedication to operational excellence.”
Gill’s obituary says that he was “a long-standing member of Knights of Columbus” as well as a founding member of the department’s Honor Guard and instrumental in establishing the Boston EMS Relief Association.
Visiting hours are scheduled for May 28 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home in West Roxbury. A funeral the next day is for family and friends.
Gill’s family asks that donations be made in his memory to “benefit and support EMT’s furthering their education and pursuing certification as Paramedics in the city of Boston. Donations may be mailed to BEMSRA, PO Box 290668, Charleston, MA 02129.”
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