Laconia-----William L. Gage, M.D., 87, of Shore Drive, died April 26, 2016, surrounded by his family at the Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida.
Born in Laconia, the son of Dr. Earl and Irene Gage, he graduated from St. John’s School in Laconia and was valedictorian of his class at Gonzaga High School in Spokane, Washington. He received his bachelor’s degree from Tufts College, where he was selected as a member of the Lambert-Kingsley Biology Honor Society.
In 1953, he graduated from Boston University School of Medicine. He interned at Boston City Hospital in a surgical residency program, becoming a teaching fellow in surgery at BU School of Medicine. From 1956-58, Dr. Gage was chief of surgery at U.S. Army Hospital Münchweiler, Germany. Upon leaving the service in 1958, the Army awarded him a Medical Citation of Merit, the first given at this hospital.
He returned to Boston City Hospital as Chief Surgical Resident of the Boston University Surgical Services.
In 1960, he opened a surgical practice in Laconia and joined the staff of Laconia Hospital. During his 39-year surgical career, he was a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery; a fellow of the American College of Surgeons; a member of the American Society of Abdominal Surgeons, the New England Surgical Society, and the American College of Chest Physicians in the subspecialty of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Secretary and President of the New Hampshire College of Surgeons; Chairman of the Cancer Committee and Director of the Cancer Clinic at LRGH; Chairman of the Department of Surgery at LRGH; and, by appointment of the governor, a member of the state’s Cancer and Chronic Disease Advisory Panel. In 1984, he was appointed Chief of General Surgery at Lakes Region General Hospital, a position he held until his retirement in 1999.
He enjoyed boating on Lake Winnisquam, reading, traveling, and was an avid tennis player. He especially enjoyed being a member of the “Grumpy Old Men” tennis group. He was beloved by his family for his humor, warmth, and compassion.
Dr. Gage is survived by his wife of 61 years, Irene “Becky” Gage of Laconia; his three children, John Gage of Worcester MA and his wife Gaylen, Laurie Gage-Fortin of Belmont and her husband Jim, and Bill Gage of Laconia; his grandchildren, Brian and Christopher Duggan of Belmont and Harriet Gage of Worcester; his sister Irene and her husband Everett Munsey of Largo, Florida; and sisters-in-law Rita Gage of Sanbornton and Myrta Gage of Pembroke. Dr. Gage was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Attorney Earl Gage of Berlin and Dr. Joseph Gage of Laconia; his sister Evelyn and her husband Gilbert “Gib” Strobel of South Weymouth MA. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.
There will be no calling hours.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Andre Bessette Parish, St. Josephs Church, 30 Church St. Laconia NH, on Thursday, May 5, at 10:30 AM.
Committal services will follow at St. Lambert’s Cemetery, Laconia.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to the Lakes Region Community Services Foundation, P.O. Box 509, Laconia, NH 03247 (online donations at http://www.lrcs.org).
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information or to sign an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.