1866 – 1934 (August 31)

William Gillespie was born in County Donegal, Ireland, about the year 1866. He was 28 years old when he was vested at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on May 4, 1894. In religious life he was known as Brother John.

Brother John served at Villanova until 1897 when he was transferred to Lawrence, Massachusetts. He returned to Villanova in May, 1900, where he made his novitiate and was professed on August 4, 1901. He left for Havana, Cuba in April, 1902, but returned to Villanova on the 1st of September. In September, 1902, Brother John was appointed to St. Denis in Ardmore, Pa., where he remained until 1911. He was solemnly professed at Villanova on August 5, 1904. In 1914 he was assigned to the community at Our Mother of Consolation Parish, Chestnut Hill, PA., and remained there for the next 23 years.

Brother John suffered a stroke and died ten days later in Philadelphia's Saint Agnes' Hospital on August 31, 1934 at the age of 68. He was buried at Villanova in the Community Cemetery on September 3, 1934. He is remembered as a faithful, good religious.