Peter D. Gibson, 55, of Gorham, Maine died Saturday, December 23, 2017 of glioblastoma at Springbrook Rehabilitation Center in Westbrook, Maine. He was born February 23, 1962 in Boston, Mass. and was the son and the first of four children of Alexander D. “Sandy” Gibson, Jr. and Hannah E. (Hinman) Gibson. Pete grew up in Andover, Mass and graduated from Andover High School in 1980. He went on to graduate from Northeastern University in Boston with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1985.
Pete worked at a number of sales jobs before joining NAPA Auto Parts. He relocated from Massachusetts to Atlanta, Georgia for a few years and then relocated again to Scarborough, Maine and was employed by NAPA as a sales representative in the Portland area. The decision to return to New England allowed him to again be close to his family and roots. After living in Scarborough for several years, Pete settled in Gorham. He worked for NAPA for 30 years and was a successful NAPA sales representative in the Portland area for over 25 of those years.
Peter Gibson led an active, busy and full life. He was especially adept at “seizing the day” or making every day count and was always lining up the next thing he was going to do. Pete was an avid car enthusiast. He was known for his expert knowledge of classic cars and car parts, and he intensely pursued collecting them. A favorite activity of his was tinkering with his vintage cars and going to car shows and car races. Travelling all over New England and sometimes beyond, he enjoyed the hunt for classic cars and parts.
Beyond his intense interest in cars, he pursued many other activities. From the seacoast to the mountains, Pete fully appreciated the natural landscape and history of New England. He enjoyed the outdoors, biking, traveling, collecting and being around his two dogs. He particularly loved spending weekends at the family place in Grafton, New Hampshire. Many of these experiences were happily shared with his longtime partner in life, Louise, whom he recently married.
Perhaps more so than anything else, Pete enjoyed people. He was close to his family and friends and made many connections with people wherever he went. He rarely missed an opportunity to stop in for a visit, keep in touch by phone, or wish a family member a happy birthday. Pete will be especially missed for his sense of humor, integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, optimism, faith and loyalty to his family and friends. He enriched the lives of those he knew and will be sorely missed.
Pete was predeceased by his father, Alexander D. Gibson, Jr. He was briefly survived by his mother, Hannah H. Gibson, who died this past January. He is now survived by his wife Louise (Drouin) Gibson of Gorham, Maine, his brothers Steven H. Gibson and his wife Donna of Walpole, Mass, Scott M. Gibson and his wife Jo-Anne of Andover, Mass. and his sister Alison (Gibson) Milne and her husband David of Andover, Mass. He leaves several nieces and nephews, Emily, Meghan, Sarah, Derek, Christopher, Andrew, Isabelle, and Sophia. He also leaves his Aunt Barbara and her husband Frank Donaldson of Sarasota, Fla. and his Uncle Mike Hinman and his wife Letha of Asheville, N.C. and several cousins.
Arrangements are under the care of the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home of Andover, Mass.
A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, May 26th at 11 am at The Chapel in West Parish Garden Cemetery in Andover. There will be a private burial following the service in Spring Grove Cemetery in Andover. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631 or www.abta.org/donate.