GLOUCESTER: Fred Duncan Purdy, Jr., 56, of Dennison Street, died unexpectedly Saturday, October 13, 2012.
Born in Beverly on August 26, 1956, he was the son of Winifred R. (Noble) Purdy and the late Fred D. Purdy. He was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and graduate of the Gloucester High School, class of 1974. He went on to graduate from Wentworth Institute of Technology, class of 1977 and later attended the University of Lowell.
Fred was a surveyor for North Shore Survey Corporation of Salem for 18 years. He was previously employed by Essex Survey and Control Networks. He served as a Notary Public since 1982.
He was a member of the Meher Baba Spiritual Center in South Carolina where he enjoyed regular retreats. He was also involved in the St. Peter’s Club of Gloucester, the Bay View Brotherhood, and an avid fan of International Dory Races.
For decades, Fred enthusiastically traveled throughout the state and the northeast to support his family and all Gloucester athletes at hockey games, track and cross country meets, football games, and many other community sporting events.
He was a skilled craftsman who enjoyed woodworking. Fred was an avid boater and could often be found rowing around Cape Ann, kayaking in Goose Cove, or enjoying a swim at Lighthouse Beach.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his sisters, Marjorie Jewell and her husband William Jewell, and Kathleen Purdy, of Gloucester. He was devoted to his eight nieces and nephews (the Jewell and Colangelo families) and seven grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as his beloved circle of friends who completed his family.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday November 24th at 2:00 pm at the Annisquam Village Hall, 36 Leonard Street in Gloucester. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations in Fred’s honor may be made to the Gloucester Fishermen Athletics Association, P. O. Box 3010, Gloucester, MA 01930 (www.gloucesterathletics.org), the Gloucester Education Foundation, P. O. Box 1104, Gloucester, MA 01931 (www.thinkthebest.org), or to the charity of one’s choice.