Obituary of Harold Gilroy

Harold M. Gilroy, 82, Mountainhome, died on Sunday, Nov. 18 at the VNA Hospice House of Monroe County, Smithfield Twp. Born and raised in Pittston, Pa., he and his late wife, Doris, had lived in Middlesex Borough, N.J., for many years before retiring to Mountainhome about 20 years ago. Mr. Gilroy earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Newark (N.J.) College of Engineering. He was retired from Bell Labs in Murray Hill, N.J., where he was employed as a chemical engineer for more than 30 years. Mr. Gilroy was politically involved and an active volunteer in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Among his many positions, he had served as a Borough Councilman in Middlesex in the 1960s and was a member of the Democratic organization. He was a communicant at St. Bernadette's Church in Canadensis and a volunteer with the Barrett Friendly Library. Extremely well read and knowledgeable on a wide range of subjects, he was known for his great sense of humor and intellectual curiosity. In his retirement he re-wrote Sir Isaac Newton's theory on gravity and submitted to a scientific organization for consideration. He was a member of a scientific team that worked on the restoration of the Statue of Liberty torch. In retirement he enjoyed playing cards with friends and playing the horses. He loved old folk music, doing puzzles and Miller Lite beer. Mr. Gilroy had a large circle of friends with whom he enjoyed socializing and was well liked by everyone. Surviving are three daughters: Kathy Healey and her husband, Joe, of Manville, NJ, Anne Zavalick and her husband, Charlie, of Middlesex, NJ, and Liz Schnabel of Bound Brook, N.J.; one son: Bill Gilroy and his wife, Lisa Duffala of Issaquah, Wash.; three grandchildren; his beloved cat, Seesehill and numerous friends and relatives. There will be a viewing on Tuesday, November 20 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Bolock Funeral Home, corner of routes 940 and 390, Paradise Valley. The Reverend Father David Cramer will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, November 21 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of St. Bernadette, Route 390 in Mountainhome. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church on Wednesday morning. Interment will follow in Resurrection Burial Park, Piscataway, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to a charity of one's choice.