Peter James Gillis

Peter James Gillis (91), of Silver Spring, MD passed away peacefully at home on February 12, 2026.  He was the son of James Ernest Gillis and Corinne (McFarland) Gillis, born in Washington, D.C., on October 7, 1934, along with his twin brother, Paul.  Peter enjoyed sharing stories of growing up in the Washington, D.C. area.  Much of his childhood was spent on the grounds of the Old Soldiers Home in D.C., summers in Maine while his father recovered from tuberculosis, and riding his bike to Bailey’s Crossroads to purchase fireworks. 

Peter was a proud graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase (BCC) High School in 1953, and after graduating from the University of Maryland (1957) with a degree in accounting, he married Rita Cecile (Werner) Gillis, a nurse and D.C. native, and they began their life in Maryland.  They raised six children: Joe (Laura), Maureen (Michael), Brian (Patricia), Kathleen (Scott), Elizabeth, and Angela (Richard) and had nine grandchildren:  Julie and Samantha Gillis, Stefan and Suzanne Barker; James, Mary, and Katherine Gillis; Taylor and Lauren Geier. 

Peter earned his CPA and worked for Merkle Press Inc. and became so knowledgeable that he could feel a paper sample and determine which mill produced it.  He later worked in accounting for Grady Property Management and eventually started his long career at the Federal Reserve Board (The Fed).  At The Fed, Peter became the go-to expert on a number of financial topics.  Many employees, including Fed governors, came to him for guidance.  To support his large family, Peter devoted evenings and weekends to his own tax practice, which he maintained for several decades.

Peter was a devout Catholic, a parishioner of Saint John the Baptist Church in Silver Spring for 61 years where he taught religious education to middle schoolers and was a long-serving Eucharistic Minister.  He was a fan of the Washington Senators, and an avid reader - especially of the Wall Street Journal, the Bible, Shakespeare, as well as history of the Civil War and World War II. He was a lifelong learner of all things related to taxes and financial markets.  He also had several interests and hobbies ranging from daily walking, family camping, growing tomatoes, eating good food, appreciating Native American artwork, bluegrass and country music concerts, and was a self-taught naturalist. As a youngster Peter enjoyed collecting bugs and rocks and was a self-proclaimed entomologist

Peter was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Rita, his daughter, Elizabeth, and his three brothers (Jim, David, and Paul). 

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. John The Baptist Church, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20904, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 11:00 am with Visitation at 10am.  Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20906.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: So Others May Eat (SOME) - https://some.org/