Tony Gilmore, who has died aged 64, combined in both his working and leisure life a knowledge and love of the humanities and sciences, which he used to improve the lot of many less fortunate than himself.
He was born in Drumcondra, Dublin, the eldest of four children of Rory Gilmore, a civil servant and Catherine Kennedy, a homemaker. When he was young the family moved to Malahide and he attended St Sylvester’s and O’Connell’s CBS. His parents died within a year of each other when he was his late teens and he always felt a strong sense of responsibility for his younger siblings.
He worked as a TV repair man and studied electronics in Kevin Street College of Technology. While working in Dataproducts, Coolock, he became shop steward for the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs trade union.
When Ireland, the UK and Denmark joined the then EEC in 1973, he went to Denmark. There he met and fell in love with Helen Jakobsen, and she came back with him and they settled in Dublin.
From 1977 to 1980, he studied for a degree in English and sociology in Maynooth University, where he set up the college magazine and had some clashes with the clerical authorities over what he wrote. He did his higher diploma in education, another night degree in maths and some years later, a master’s in adult education.
As a part-time teacher, he saw how few rights such workers had, so he and others set up the Association of Part-Time Teachers. They attended many teacher-union conferences to campaign for better conditions.
Following 10 years as a part-time teacher in Liberties College, he became full-time in the South Inner City Community Development Association training centre, teaching English and maths. He was a dedicated, inspirational teacher of young people from challenging and difficult backgrounds, and he did his utmost to help them.
In 1992, he and a few close friends set up the North and East Housing Association to assist in the building of social housing. He was chair of its board for 20 years and devoted most of his school holidays and much other time to the work. It has helped to house hundreds of families and it is one of the largest voluntary housing associations in Ireland.
He joined Labour in the mid-1970s. He passionately believed in better training opportunities for all young people, particularly those who would not go on to third-level education.
A keen cricketer, he was a member of Merrion Cricket Club, where for many years he ran teams; and, along with a core of older players, he brought on many young cricketers. He did much work for his local Ranelagh Arts Festival in the early days and frequently contributed to its poetry readings. Some of his poems were published (in Poetry Ireland, 1991). He also wrote short stories, one of which was shortlisted in a recent Sunday Business Post/Penguin competition. He always carried a notebook and pen to jot down ideas for writing. The London Review of Books was his constant companion, where his question marks, underlinings and comments could be found on almost every page.
A wonderful conversationalist, he was patient, non-judgmental and full of good humour. Tragically, cancer took him away much too young.Tony provided the example of the creative, constructive, optimistic life well lived to the full.
He is survived by his wife Helen, his children Frederik, Aindreas and Catherine, and siblings Barry, Brian and Niamh.