Gilman Cote

Gilman F. Cote, 85, of Cheshire, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2025. Born on April 27, 1940, in Van Buren, ME, Gilman was the son of the late Felix Cote and Gladys (Sirois) Cote.

Gil grew up in Van Buren and graduated from Van Buren Boys High as valedictorian of his class in 1958. He moved to Connecticut in early 1959 and started working with a spring company in Hartford. His perseverance and years of night school at the University of Hartford led to a degree in mechanical engineering and a career of 47 years in the spring design industry. Gil lived most of his adult life in Bristol before moving to Cheshire.

Gil had a passion for flying small aircrafts and received his private pilot’s license in 1976. He enjoyed flying up and down the east coast to Van Buren, Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island, Nantucket, Virginia, and Florida. In his later years, his favorite activity was spending time with his seven grandchildren and supporting their dreams of higher education. He liked to share stories of hiking the Grand Canyon, white-water rafting in Taos, skiing at Ski Santa Fe, and spending summer vacations with family on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

Gilman is survived by his children, Scott Cote of Albuquerque, NM, Brenda (Scott) Hillyard of Union Hall, VA, and Donna (Jim) Mitchell of Cheshire; grandchildren, Benjamin and Augustus Cote, Jossalyn Murray, Jacob Hillyard, Kevin Mitchell, Shannon Vendetto, and Patrick Mitchell; siblings, Theresa Whitney, Joan Thibodeau, Donald Cote, Roland Cote, and Roger Cote; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. He was predeceased by his oldest brother, Robert and younger sister, Gloria Jean.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home, 615 S Main St., Cheshire, CT 06410. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated that day at 12:00 p.m. at Saint Bridget of Sweden Church, 175 Main St., Cheshire, CT. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Stroke Association.