RI Loses Leader in Recovery Movement

A man who brought hope and compassion to thousands of Rhode Islanders battling addiction and is credited with founding the modern recovery movement in the state, Jim Gillen, has died.

Gillen was battling cancer some time and died Sunday morning surrounded by friends.

He was 61.

“Jim Gillen passed away peacefully this morning with his Family at his side,“ a statement from Anchor Recovery Community Center read. His courageous battle over the last several years was no different than his fight for his recovery community. Anchor is open to all who need it. Jimmy Gillen we love you always. We will, as promised, never let your vision die and in the words of Holly Cekala, Rally On Jimmy.”

Gillen was director of recovery services at The Providence Center and contributed greatly to the recovery movement, helping to lead the expansion of community efforts across the state as well as developing strong relationships with local, state and federal leaders.

Most importantly, Gillen was a symbol of how ones life can be turned around and addiction is a manageable disease. He did it by being a friend, mentor and role model. In the blurry world of drug abuse, Gillen was a man who offered clarity to anyone who asked.

And a hug.

In an interview with the Providence Journal, Patrick Kennedy, a former congressman, said that Gillen is “one of the founding fathers of the modern day recovery movement.”

Gillen was approachable, compassionate and his own personal story of struggle with addiction made him the perfect ambassador for the movement as well as an inspiration for each person facing their own struggles.

As he got more and more sick, his work never slowed down. Friends say he poured as much energy as he could into his work and never backed down from his mission to eliminate the stigma of addiction and show people there is a path to recovery.

The Providence Journal’s Lynn Arditi wrote a good reflection of Gillen’s life.