BRADENTON BEACH, FL: Eugene C. “Gene” Guertin, retired Haverhill firefighter, 91, died Monday, April 9, 2012 in the Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Mary P. “Pat” (Harley) Guertin who he married on June 19, 2010. He was predeceased by his first wife Flora I. (Gane) Guertin in 2005 with whom he shared fifty nine years of marriage.
Born in Haverhill on March 20, 1921, he was the son of the late Edward and Yvonne (Desaulniers) Guertin. He attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School and St. James High School. Gene was a resident of Daytona Beach, FL from 1986 until 2005, he then moved to Bradenton Beach, where he has lived for the past seven years. Prior to living in Florida he was a resident of Haverhill for many years. He proudly served our country as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II from January 6, 1941 until he was honorably discharged on August 27, 1945.
Gene was a firefighter for the City of Haverhill for twenty-eight years until his retirement in 1976. He also worked for thirty years as a machinist at the Circle Machine Company in Haverhill until 1985. Gene loved the game of golf throughout his lifetime and even taught his son, Vaughn to play. In his younger years he also enjoyed skiing. Playing cards was another of his favorite things to do, whether it was Poker, Gin or Bridge he knew how to play a hand of cards. Gene was a good man who was dedicated to taking care of his family over the years. He especially liked to spend time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family surely will miss all that he contributed to their lives.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Vaughn E. and Carole A. Guertin of Bradenton Beach, FL; two grandchildren, Todd P. Guertin and his wife, Cheri of North Andover and Renee Guertin Mercier and her husband, Aaron of Kensington, NH; five great-grandchildren, Jonathan Borrelli, Maxwell and Olivia Guertin and Grace and Jackson Mercier and many nieces and nephews. He was the grandfather of the late Casey J. Guertin who died in 1997.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday in the St. John the Baptist Church, 114 Lincoln Ave., Haverhill at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Friday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment with Military Honors will be held in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club, 55 Emerson St., Haverhill, MA 01830.