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- [S5] Obituary.
WINCHESTER, N.H. - Paul D. Gamache, 73, a long-time resident of Winchester and formerly of Northfield, MA, died unexpectedly on Saturday, January 3, 2015. He passed with dignity in the comfort of his home with his wife and daughter with him. He was predeceased by a great granddaughter, Makayla Gamache, who died in 2010.
Paul was born the son of the late Margaret (Meyer) and Paul J. Gamache on February 9, 1941 in New Haven, CT. He graduated from East Haven High School, (CT) in 1959 as a top honor student and earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Haven.
He served during the Vietnam Era as a member of the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division. Paul completed his enlistment and was honorably discharged.
On May 13, 1961 he exchanged vows with Janice L. Hummer of East Haven, CT at Park Methodist Church in New Haven, CT. They have been happily married for the past fifty-three years.
Paul spent his entire working career with Northeast Utilities, the first years in Willimantic and Berlin, Connecticut. For the last twenty years of his career he was Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent of Northfield Mountain Hydroelectric Power Plant in Northfield, MA. His responsibilities included both the physical hydro plant and the Northfield Mountain Environmental Center, Cabot Station, He took early retirement in 1998 and worked for approximately ten years as a freelance consultant.
Paul was first and foremost a family man. He particularly loved his seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and was a kind and loving husband and father. He has always been a role model and mentor to his many nieces and nephews. His second love was Bittersweet Farm where he lived for the past thirty years. In 1979 he and his wife created the Northfield Country House in Northfield, MA, a small country full-service inn which eventually was featured in eight national publications. The inn was sold in 1985 and the family moved to Winchester to fulfill a dream of Paul's to own a small gentleman's farm. He created a wildlife habitat on his property, and loaned out fields to local farmers to grow and harvest hay. He was a great believer in conservation of natural resources, particularly the soil rich farms of Winchester. He was treasurer and an active member of the Winchester Conservation Commission until his death. During his seventeen years of retirement he lived life to the fullest. He and his wife Jan travelled to many places in the world. He loved skiing in Europe. His favorite trips were to Israel, Africa, and Ireland. He spent one month as a volunteer in Japan with an organization which taught organic farming to community leaders in third world countries, and this year he was considering travel to Zimbabwe to visit the United Church of Winchester's partner church in Hwange, Zimbabwe. In his younger years he could be found mentoring kids, coaching hockey, being a boy scout leader, and sharing his love of the outdoors. Paul, a man of faith, was an active member of the United Church of Winchester since 1985 In the last ten years, Paul continued to spend time reading, skiing, backpacking, mountain climbing, being at the ocean, working in the woods, hunting, salt water fishing with his "boys" and spending winters in Wildwood. FL. He loved animals and being with nature, which brought him to start and develop local conservation projects. He was a member of the Connecticut River Watershed Council, the Winchester Planning Board and treasurer of the Winchester region of the American Red Cross.
Mr. Gamache is survived by his wife Janice "Jan" Gamache of Winchester. He also leaves his children Michele "Shelly" Pagan of Winchester and his son Lee Gamache of Winchester; siblings; Phyllis Kallert and her husband Fred of Hamden, CT. and Robert Gamache and his wife Carol of North Haven, CT. Seven grandchildren: Jessica Roholff, Jason Pagan, Steven Gamache Sr., Jasmine Pagan, Robb Gamache, Freedom Gamache and Faith Gamache and two great grandchildren: Makayla Gamache and Steven Gamache Jr. in addition to an extended family and many friends.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 from 5 to 8 pm. at the funeral home In Keene. A celebration of life service will occur on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 11:00 am. at the United Church of Winchester, Route 10, Main Street, Winchester, NH. Burial will take place in the spring at South Parish Cemetery, in the family lot with military honors. Flowers will gladly be accepted. However, the family would prefer donations be made in memory of Paul D. Gamache to "CHAD" Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, D-H Geisel Office of Development, One Medical Center Dr. HB 7070, Lebanon, NH. 03756. in gratitude for the life saving care that was given to his great grandchildren. All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Home and Crematories, 44 Maple Ave. Keene, NH. 03431. www.cheshirefamilyfh.com
Published in The Recorder on Jan. 6, 2015
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1941 - 2015 (73 years)
