Beverly man set example for family, community, cousin says
When Terry Gainer visited Galway, Ireland, last year, he said the mayor there was very excited to meet a member of the Gainer family from Chicago after having known his cousin, William “Bill” Gainer.
A proud supporter of Irish heritage in the Beverly, Morgan Park andMount Greenwood neighborhoods, William Gainer founded and chaired the sister city partnership between Galway and Chicago.
William Gainer died peacefully at his Beverly home March 16 surrounded by family, including his wife, six children and 17 grandchildren, his family said. Hewas 79.
Gainer believed in helping his community and set that example with his wife, Gerry, for their children, Gainer’s cousin Marty Gainer said.
For example, his daughter, Bridget Gainer, is a Cook County commissioner; and another daughter is a doctor who ran a clinic with her husband in Appalachia serving the underserved. Another daughter is president of the Beverly Area Planning Association.
Marty Gainer said William Gainer helped start two major family traditions for the large extended Gainer family, including a family picnic in Kennedy Park and a family float in the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which William Gainer served on the committee of since its inception 40 years ago.
“That was a big part of our lives,” Marty Gainer said about the parade float, which continues.
William Gainer died a day before this year’s parade but several members of his family still marched in his memory.
Marty Gainer said his cousin had felt bad when the parade was canceled one year and worked diligently to successfully make it family friendly and alcohol-free.
Ald. Matt O’Shea, D-19th Ward, said the Gainer family is well-known throughout the community as a family that is very involved with giving and service to others.