A long time ago in a city not too far away…
Robert Gillis grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Boston College High School and U/Mass Boston. He and his wife Susan (Foxboro’s 1998 Citizen of the Year) live in Foxboro, home of the five time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
His Writing…
Although he’s been a professional computer geek for over 25 years, his first love has always been writing, and he has written a regular opinion piece for the Foxboro Reporter since 1996. Since 2006 he has also been writing for the Boston City Paper. (Click here for where to find the Boston City Paper)
Much of his published writing (and other fun things) can be found on his web site at robertxgillis.com.
The Foxboro Jaycees
He’s lived in Foxboro over twenty-five years and has a passionate love for his home town. He is very active in the Foxboro community; in addition to being on the board of directors of the Foxboro Jaycees from 2000-2008, and again from 2013-2018, he has participated in and chaired many Jaycee community development projects since 1993, and he has served as that organization’s web master since 1998, a task he loves.
Foxboro Jaycees annual awards received:
Project of the year: Jaycee Website (2002-2003); Membership project of the year: Jaycee Website (2000-2001),(2001-2002),(2003-2004),(2004-2005),(2005-2006),(2006-2007),(2007-2008),(2010-2011),(2012-2013),(2014-2015),(2015-2016). Director of the year: (2001-2002) and (2002-2003). New project of the year: September 11 Memorial (2002-2003). New project of the year: September 11 Five Year Memorial (2006-2007). Community Development project of the year: September 11 Five Year Memorial (2006-2007). Officer of The Year (2016-2017).
In 2013, he was named Foxboro Jaycees Key Man. It’s the highest award that can be bestowed upon a any Jaycee, and he is still stunned, and profoundly grateful from his heart to the Jaycees for the honor. In 2017, he was named a Foxboro Jaycees life member; less than 15 of these awards have been given since the chapter’s founding and he is still stunned and humbled to be chosen for this award and promises to to continue to try to worthy of it.
Around Foxboro…
He and his wife have also have run food drives for the Foxboro Food Pantry and fundraisers for the Foxboro Senior Center and continue to volunteer at La Sallette Shrine in Attleboro and around Foxboro.
In 2009, he redesigned the website for Foxborough Founders Day and served as that group’s webmaster until 2017.
He does occasional camera and volunteer work for Foxboro Cable Access, where he, “Gets to play with the tech toys.” You’ll still sometimes see him filming the Jaycee summer concerts with the FCA crew every Thursday in the summer.
Professional Photography – Gillis Photos.com
Having grown up in Dorchester, Boston is my favorite city. As a kid, my family vacationed in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and I was amazed by the spectacular natural beauty of that area. Over the last decade, I re-discovered my love and connection with the Ocean and everything Nautical around Coastal Maine, Massachusetts, and beyond. I also have a passionate connection to my hometown of Foxboro Massachusetts.
I LOVE capturing an image of God’s beauty in nature and the wonder of the man-made iconic spots. I have been taking pictures since I can remember. I love capturing just the right angle — or the angle no one else sees — or waiting for just the right light to showcase the beauty of a moment in time.
For me, my photography is my passion. In a world that seems to be moving faster and faster all around us, my photography keeps me centered. Beauty and grace ARE all around us, we just need to slow down a bit, stop for a moment and take notice of it and appreciate it. That is what my photography does for me and my hope is that it would offer the same sense of peace and appreciation to all who see it.
My photos are natural. My post-processing technique consists of small adjustments to faithfully recreate what I saw at the moment. I do not over-correct or enhance an image to produce colors that don’t exist in nature. I want the final image to look as close to the what your eye would see at the moment the picture was taken. I share my photos in hopes that they bring as much joy to everyone as it does me.
In 2005 he opened his “New England Photography Gallery” at GillisPhotos.com. Check it out for over 3000 images of New England.
Nana – his first published book
For anyone who has ever loved a senior citizen, this book will touch your heart. Anne Gillis, my Nana. I loved her dearly. What began as a stop to drop off the newspaper blossomed into a very special responsibility lasting over two decades. I visited her daily since I was five; I shopped for her, watched out for her, took care of household repairs as I got older, and listened as she talked about her remarkable life. After Nana died, I started writing about her, and found that there could be no better way to accept her passing than by celebrating her life. This book is a very personal, special story that I would like to share with you.
“Nana” is his first published book (2006), a labor of love, written in memory of his beloved grandmother. He hopes that anyone who has loved a senior will read this book.
Email me!
You can contact Robert at robertxgillis777@gmail.com
