Jerome P. "Jerry" Gamache, 64, of Dartmouth passed away peacefully on Saturday March 18, 2017 at St. Anne's Hospital after a long battle with dementia. He was the loving husband of Annette D. (Couture) Gamache; they had been married for 29 years.
Born in Fall River, the son of the late Oliver and Marie (Cyr) Gamache, he lived in Fall River for many years before moving to Dartmouth in 1999.
Jerome worked for the Fall River Police Department for 30 years. He rose from rank of Community Service Officer until his retirement as Captain. He also had been an instructor for the Plymouth Police Academy and had been a state firearms instructor.
He was an active communicant of St. Mary's Church in Dartmouth, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister.
Jerry was a member of the Massachusetts Police Association, a director of the Fall River Marine Museum, and a Past President of the Friends of Heritage State Park. He had been a chauffeur for the Miss Senior Sweetheart Pageant in Fall River. He was also instrumental in coordinating security details for Fall River Celebrates America. He had been chairman of the naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens aboard the Battleship Massachusetts.
He was a continual learner throughout his life. He received two Master's degrees, one in Criminal Justice from Salve Regina University and the other in Business Administration and Sociology from Babson College.
Jerry was an avid collector of stamps, coins, and lighthouses. He enjoyed traveling with his wife Annette, especially vacations to Maine, sailing, shopping, and lighthouse venturing.
Jerry was an active member of the Boy Scouts for many years, and lived the motto: “Be Prepared.” As a boy, he was a member of Troop 76, sponsored by Our Lady of the Angels Church in Fall River. Jerry earned many awards including the Ad Altare Dei (Catholic Award), Mile Swim, and its highest award, Eagle Scout. He was proud to point out that he earned among the highest number of merit badges ever in what was then Massasoit Council.
The purpose of the Boy Scouts is to prepare leaders, and even as a youth, he excelled. Jerry won the highly competitive Firestone Award for Outstanding Scouting and was an active member of Scouting's honor society, the Order of the Arrow, where he was awarded the Vigil Honor, its highest recognition. As a youth, Jerry served as a member of the Camp Noquochoke staff for two summers, and, as an adult, remained active for several years working with leaders in the program and helping young Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He inspired others to achieve, and will be sadly missed by his Scouting colleagues, especially by four old Boy Scout pals in particular. His friendship and kindness will endure with them all a lifetime.
In his last years, he enjoyed spending time with his wife Annette, caregiver John Costa, Jr., and their many friends. He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him. He will be remembered as a warm and generous man who lived by the Christian values of unselfish acts of kindness to anyone in need.
Annette would like to extend special thanks, to the physicians, nurses, staff of St. Anne's Hospital and to the pastoral care department for their compassionate care shown to Jerry.
He is survived by his loving wife, Annette, and his dear friend and caregiver, John Costa, Jr. of Dartmouth.
He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Whalen Brown.
His Funeral will be held on Friday at 8:45 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at St, Mary's Parish Center, Dartmouth at 10 AM. Burial will follow in South Dartmouth Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Mary's Church Renovation Fund, 783 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth, MA 02748. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.