Former Pirates PR man Guilfoile dies at 84

Former Pirates public relations director Bill Guilfoile died Saturday in South Bend, Ind. He was 84.

Guilfoile worked for the Pirates from 1970-78. He served as head of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's public relations office from 1979-96.

He is survived by his wife, Loretta, a daughter, Ann, sons, Pete, Tom and Kevin, and 10 grandchildren.

Kevin Guilfoile is a writer who has authored several books, including “A Drive Into the Gap,” which delves into the mystery surrounding the bat Roberto Clemente used for his 3,000th career hit and his father's battle with Alzheimer's-type dementia.

“We love you, Dad,” Kevin Guilfoile wrote on his Facebook page. “This long and slow final chapter is not the one you would have written, but it is because of your strength that your story had to end this way. We have never been more proud of you. Believe me that is saying something.”

Jim Gates, the Hall of Fame's head librarian, said he remembers Guilfoile's fondness for Clemente, often speaking of the Pirates star as a “gentleman.” Gates recalled Guilfoile the same way.

“He never got frazzled, always said please and thank you and always referred to people as mister, missus or miss,” Gates said. “When it comes to being a gentleman, he was quite old school.”

Tribune-Review staff writer Michael Walton contributed. Bob Cohn is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bcohn@tribweb.com or via Twitter@BCohn_Trib.