November 3, 2023, OAKLAND COUNTY, MI. – Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) has released the following statement on the passing of Commissioner Gary R. McGillivray (D-Madison Heights), who represented District 3 (Hazel Park and Madison Heights, and portions of Troy). 

“We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague and friend Gary McGillivray,” Woodward said.  “He was the model of a local public servant, dedicating himself to improving life for those in Oakland County, and specifically residents of his own community in Madison Heights. He led with passion, notably following that passion to lead the Parks and Recreation Commission. Generations will have better parks because of his leadership. Our county is stronger because he served us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and all of those who lives were touched by his service. His passing is a loss to our county, and his memory lives on as a call to action to continue the work he dedicated his public life to.”  

McGillivray was first elected to the Board of Commissioners in November 2008, serving until his death on November 3, 2023. During his tenure on the Board, was chair of the Democratic Caucus, chair of the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee and a member of the Public Health & Safety Committee. Throughout his more than 15 years on the Board, he was also a member of several other committees, task forces and study groups. He was first appointed to the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission in 2011 and served as its most recent chair. In July 2023, the city of Madison Heights renamed Twelve-Sherry Park, located on 12 Mile Road between Campbell and Stephenson roads, as McGillivray Park. 

McGillivray was also mayor of Madison Heights from 1998 to 1999 and was a member of its city’s council from 1983 to 1998 and 2001 to 2008. In the community, his memberships included the Madison Heights Little Baseball Board of Directors and Michigan Municipal League Legislative Committee and chairing the Madison Heights Planning Commission.  

In addition to his life in public service, McGillivray worked in the circulation department for The Daily Tribune and The Macomb Daily for 29 years. He studied law enforcement for two years at Oakland Community College and was a Madison Heights Police Reserves and Probation Officer. He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Diane. He is survived by two children, Andy and Amy and son-in-law Josh, and his granddaughter.