CAPT. Lawrence E. Gemma, USNR (Ret.), a Navy helicopter pilot made his final approach and landing Sunday, October 27, 2013, surrounded by a ground crew of his family. Once his graduation from flight school in Pensacola, FL in 1965 was completed, he eagerly applied for the chance to fly helicopters, enjoyed many duty assignments and eventually served in the position of Commanding Officer of HSL-74 from 1985-1987. He served in Operation Desert Storm from May 1991 to May 1992 as Deputy Operations Officer for COMUSNAVCENT in Bahrain as his last duty assignment. He was extremely proud of his military service, and loved his fellow Navy brothers, with the deepest admiration and respect. Their bond and brotherhood continue to span time and miles with their connection as close as in the days they served together.
In 1973, he began his career in retail in Downtown Mystic, with his former wife Jeanne Gemma, of Mystic, who survives him, when he opened A Stitch in Time Boutique, which held institutional status in town. Later they opened locations in the Olde Mystic Village, Groton, New London and Westerly. His success as a small-business owner and entrepreneur continued after his retirement from the Navy, when he opened Mystic Army Navy in downtown Mystic with his business partner, Bert Dahl in 1993, and then Mystic Army Navy II in the Olde Mistick Village in 1996. What an opportunity this was to discuss his military exploits with every customer who walked into the store! His loyal crew over the last 20 years of business fondly remember all of the great stories and can repeat them verbatim, (chasing Soviet subs in the mid-Atlantic, during the Vietnam War). In 2010, Bert retired from the business, so Lawrence made his daughter Michelle Gemma, who was already the general manager since 1999, his new business partner. She will continue to run both stores.
Having been in real estate for more than 26 years, he currently was Owner/Broker of LarryGemma Realty. He was also a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. He was an active member of the Mystic VFW, Eastern CT Association of Realtors, and numerous other fraternal and charitable groups.
Lawrence is survived by his life partner Patricia Brigham, of Noank, and her daughter Jaymi-Lynn and husband Scott Adams of Auburn, MA, her sister Cheryl and husband Bill Burokas and their 4 children of Auburn, MA , and her mother Simone, also of Auburn. Lawrence was especially proud of Patricia’ s army military service, by not only actively supporting her career as Colonel in the Army Nurse Corps but by being embraced her army brotherhood who valued him as one of their own.
He is also survived by his daughter Michelle Gemma and her life partner Richard Freitas of Mystic, and his daughter Maria Gemma Koster of Syracuse, NY and his grandchildren Emma, Andrew, and Isabelle Koster of Syracuse, NY.
His sister Elaine, and brothers Ronald and his wife Tita, James, Rocco and his wife Alathia, and David all survive him, along with several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Rocco, his mother Helen and his sister Janice- all of Shrewsbury, MA.
Lawrence had a passion for the theater, and loved to travel, scuba dive and celebrate with family and friends. He loved to go sailing-from his recreational days as Captain of the Majestic during the 1980’s, to his frequent trips with Patricia on the Mystic Whaler. He especially enjoyed his front row seat on Palmers Cove in Noank where he was able to reflect upon the many sunsets that he has known and loved…..
We all will remember his supreme zest for life which was only exceeded by his intense love of his daughters and grandchildren.
There will be a wake held Thursday 31 October from 4 to 7 pm at Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic. A funeral service will be held at 11 am Friday 1 November at the Mystic Art Center ,9 Water Street, Mystic (free parking in the lot) followed by a burial in the Noank Valley Cemetery, with full military honors, followed by a celebration at Latitude 41 at the Mystic Seaport.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, in memory of his sister Janice, the Trinity Repertory Company of Providence, RI, or the US Navy Foundation.
“Remember, if you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!”
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