Christopher Robert Gilks' Obituary
CHRISTOHER ROBERT GILKS
MAY 7th 1967- FEBRUARY 24th 2010
MIAMI FL. Christopher Robert Gilks, 42, beloved son, brother, and uncle, of Miami
Beach, FL died Wednesday February 24th 2010 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami
from complications after an October 2009 liver transplant.
Born May 7th 1967 in Estevan Saskatchewan Canada he was the son and step-
son of Kathleen and Gregory Hunt of Hagerstown MD, and Michael and Elease Gilks of
Kentwood LA. In addition to his parents, Chris is survived by his sister Monica (Gilks)
Spillane and husband Charles II of Savannah,GA, and brother Corin Gilks and wife
Jennifer of Hagerstown MD, and three nephews, Zachary Minnich of Savannah, and
Tyler Gilks and Benjamin Gilks of Hagerstown. Chris is also survived by many relatives
in England and friends all over the country, most especially his “work family” at WPLG
Channel 10 in Miami, and his beloved cat Mr Peepers.
Chris graduated from North Hagerstown High School in 1985. While there,
he was in the Orchestra, and he was very involved with the Student Government
Association, and was Youth Governor of Maryland in 1985. In 1989 he graduated Cum
Laude from Ohio University with a B.S. degree in Journalism
For 20 years Chris worked as a Producer, Executive Producer, or News
Director for TV stations in Albany NY, Cincinnati OH, Los Angeles CA, San Diego CA,
San Francisco CA, Spokane WA, Atlanta GA, and Detroit MI before becoming an
Executive Producer for News and Special Projects at WPLG Channel 10 the ABC
affiliate in Miami. Chris received many awards for his work over the years including
four Emmys. In 2008 he was awarded two Emmys by the National Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences Suncoast Chapter, one for “Going Green” and one for “Art
Basel-A Work of Art”. He won his last Emmy in 2009 for “Amazon and Beyond.”
Chris was a very spiritual person who loved his life, his family and friends,
and his work which took him to many different countries.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Chris’ life will be held in Miami at
Unity on the Bay, on Saturday March 13th,2010 at 2pm. A reception will follow at 5600
Collins Ave Miami Beach. His final resting place will be on Hatteras Island on the
Outer Banks NC where our family vacationed each summer and spent many happy
times together.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made
to:-Jackson Health System Social Worker Trust Fund, Clinical Resource Management
Department, Attn: Jane Aversa, INST BLDG, RM 119, 1611 NW 12th Ave Miami FL
- Please note the contribution is for Families of Palliative Care patients in
Memory of Christopher Gilks.
A tribute by WPLG can be viewed at www.justnews.com/video/22663407.
Online condolences can be signed at www.vanorsdel.com.
Chris-your strength and courage amazed and inspired us. We will love you and
miss you for ever.
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