Donald W. Gagnon's Obituary
On September 22, 2023, one day after his 91st birthday, Donald W. Gagnon passed away of natural causes. He was born in Methuen, MA on September 21, 1932 to Girard H. Gagnon and Josephine (Michaud) Gagnon, and was one of 12 children. Don attended Mt. Carmel elementary school and Searles High school.
At the age of 19, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Massey (DD778) as a cook until 1955. He was witness to the destruction of the 1953 Ionian earthquake in Greece, as his ship was one of the first to arrive with relief supplies. Upon his return to civilian life, he married Carol Jean Connors in 1958. Together, they were blessed with two wonderful children, Dan and Gary Gagnon.
Don, always passionate about sports, carried this enthusiasm into adulthood as he coached Little League and youth basketball. Even after his children had outgrown youth sports, he continued to give back to the community by serving as a physical trainer for the Pop Warner football league, impacting the lives of countless young athletes.
For over 32 years, Don was a dedicated employee of Raytheon, where he worked in the nondestructive test department. His commitment and hard work were an inspiration to many.
In his leisure time, Don enjoyed golf and was an active member of the senior bowling league in Windham, NH. These activities brought him joy and a sense of camaraderie with those who shared his passions. Don was a tinkerer and if something needed to be fixed, he was the one to go to. He once helped his son Dan restore a 1966 Dodge window van by taking the best parts from 2 engines to get one running.
Donald is survived by his son Dan, and his wife, Diane, and their two children, Jeffery, and his fiancé, Mike Pelosi, and Katie (Gagnon) Morris, and her husband, Mike Morris; his grandson, Matt, and wife, Jessica, and their two children, Brady and Emilia; his grandson, Jon, and fiancé, Dani, and their two children, Izabella and Jaxon; his grandson, Corey, and wife, Erika, and their two children, Haley and Peyton; and his granddaughter, Cassidy. Donald is also survived by sisters Carol (Gagnon) Branchaud and Linda (Gagnon) Houde, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carol (Connors) Gagnon and his son, Gary Gagnon.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to calling hours on October 2, 2023, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St, Methuen, MA. The funeral service to celebrate the life of Donald W. Gagnon will be held at 11:15 a.m., on October 3, 2023, at the funeral home followed by committal of Don’s remains and his son Gary’s ashes, at Elmwood Cemetery, Methuen, MA.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to your local youth sports organization in Donald's name, as this was a cause close to his heart.
The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gagnon family.
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