John "Phil" Gilligan ’54 passed away peacefully at home on Sunday August 14, 2011. He is survived by his wife Jane Gilligan and their three children: Andrew, Theresa and Erin, their spouses and five grandchildren. Following graduation from Santa Clara University in June of 1954, Gilligan served in the US Army Field Artillery as a Lieutenant for 4 years. Upon his return he joined Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles working as a mortgage broker, until he joined Edwin A.Tomlin Company, a Los Angeles mortgage brokerage firm. Later he became sole owner and operator of the company. During that time he served as the elected President of the California Mortgage Brokers Association and served for a full term. In 1968, following his retirement from the mortgage  brokerage business he embarked on a new career as an avocado farmer in North County San Diego. He developed Gilligan Groves, which prospers as a working business to this day. In 1970 Gilligan became a member of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Los Angeles, serving as its  President  in 1981. He also served for many years on the University of San Diego Board of Trustees and as head of the Oceanside Housing Loan Rehabilitation Commission.