Gail Irene (Lawson) LeBlanc, 73, a resident of Fairhaven, died on December 10, 2018, in New Bedford after a period of declining health. She was born in Acushnet, MA, on January 13, 1945, to James and Mary Irene (Provencher) Lawson. She considered her mother’s second husband, Romeo LaRochelle, her father.
Gail graduated from Fairhaven High School in 1962. Her ambition was to be a secretary. She exceeded her aspirations by more than a little. Gail was the first left-handed telephone operator, she proudly recalled. From this early job, she acquired a facility with phone numbers that stayed with her throughout life. Gail could recall any phone number she had ever dialed, and there were a lot.
After a series of managerial jobs, Gail found her true calling in sales at WBSM and FUN-107 radio stations approximately 30 years ago. She was a natural with her intelligence, charm, humor and grit. If a potential client said no, she heard maybe later. And more often than not, she was right. Her skills evolved over the years as she took on the responsibilities of sales manager and later general manager of the stations. Always, though, she kept her big accounts with clients who were more than that; they were friends. To know Gail was to admire her, to endear her, to fall under her spell. Her life force was magic, her generosity epic.
Gail’s greatest passion and accomplishment, though, was her family. To her, that was everything and enough. Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, she could be found with a daughter and her grandchildren, sharing sushi appetizers and gin rummy. Gail was happiest when winning. And when not served lemony or spicy foods.
The Red Sox and Patriots were cause for cheer for this fangirl. Gail loved golf, Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay and going to the movies with her grandkids. Every Saturday she had lunch with a daughter and grandchildren in a different restaurant. Inevitably someone would recognize her, greeting her with a smile and a “Hi, Gail!”
Making this world right without her will not be easy. Damned hard, in fact. But if Gail taught us anything, it was that a smile and positive thoughts never disappoint. So we will remember our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend with all the good we have in us.
Survivors include her children Michelle Stuart (William) Poirier, Tracey Stuart (Allen) Dennison, and Lisa LeBlanc (John) Roy, and grandchildren Graham, Lily Pearl, and Daphne Poirier, Blake, and Cole Dennison, and Hailey, Connor, and Jack Roy. She is also survived by siblings Bonnie Gomes and Robert LaRochelle, her first husband, James Stuart, and many dear friends. Gail was preceded in death by her spouse, Robert LeBlanc and brother, Richard Lawson.
Visiting hours are from 4-7 PM on Friday, December 14th, at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd.(Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. Her Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 15th at 11 AM at St. Joseph’s Church, 74 Spring St., Fairhaven. Burial will be private. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Special thanks to the staff of the CCU at St. Luke’s Hospital who provided professional and exceptionally compassionate care for Gail at the end of her life.