By: (AP) ? Edward G. Gillooly Jr., a sports writer who covered the Boston Celtics for nearly three decades, has died. He was 71.
Gillooly, who died of lung cancer at his home Saturday, worked at the Record American, which merged with another newspaper to become the Boston Herald, in the late 1950s and began covering the Celtics in the 1960s. He was one of the first beat writers to travel with the team.
Even after his retirement in 1979, he continued covering Celtics home games for United Press International for another 10 years.
Gillooly also helped organize the Green Gang, a fan club that brought together season ticket holders and team officials and players to talk basketball.
"He was one of the few wonderful writers who helped promote the sport before it was fashionable, and helped make it what it is today," said Joe Fitzgerald, a columnist at the Herald and a former colleague.
Gillooly, a Boston native and the oldest of 11 children, is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pauline; four daughters and three sons; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here