…Tewksbury contractor, active in Lions; 78
TEWKSBURY – David Charles Gath, age 78, a retired Residential and Commercial Contractor, beloved member of the Gath family, and well known member of the community, died peacefully in the care of his family and Hospice on Monday evening, January 20, 2020, after a courageous two and a half year battle with cancer. He was the husband and best friend of Marjorie E. (Stewart) Gath, with whom he had celebrated a fifty-sixth wedding anniversary this past November 9.
Grampy, as he was known by his grandchildren, was happiest being busy in his garage or attending every game, birthday, karate match, concert, car race, or other hobbies his grandchildren pursued. He enjoyed building projects for his family like “Grampy Tough” picnic tables; he would build you an ark if you asked. He taught many life lessons to his grandkids in the little moments he didn’t even realize — be humble, let your work show for itself and bungee cords can also be used as seatbelts. Grampy always put family first; Fifty-six years with Margie and Grampy still acted like a teenager in-love, as inappropriate as it was at times it set an example of how much you can truly love someone.
He was born in Lowell, one of six children of the late Charles and Dorothy (Garrigan) Gath, and lived his entire life on Marshall Street in Tewksbury. After graduating from the Lowell Trade (High) School, he entered into the home building business. He went on to found his own construction company, the David C. Gath Construction Company; which has continued as a family business run by David Jr. following his retirement. David was an active and life-member of the Tewksbury Lions Club for the past thirty-two years, held several club offices, managed and housed the Lions Club handicapped accessories loan-out collection, and was recognized as “Lion of the Year” along with other accolades. Dave was always generous with his time and treasure, willing and available to “lend a hand” regardless of the complexity or inconvenience of the task at hand.
Besides his beloved “Margie,” he leaves four children, David C. Gath Jr., and his wife Julie (Caswell) of Tewksbury, Dorothy A. Hudson and her husband Barry of Dracut, Christopher B. Gath and his wife Kerri (Pawlowicz) of Tewksbury and Michelle L. Pelletier and her husband Raymond of Pelham, NH; ten grandchildren, Kristen Gath, Stephanie Gath and her partner Peter Winn, Corey and Alexandria Hudson, Christopher Jr. and William Gath, Michael, Hunter, Ben, and Nicole Pelletier; one great-granddaughter, Cali Winn; five siblings, Mary Jane Bartolone and her husband Thomas of Tewksbury, Charles O. Gath Jr. and his wife Betsy of Meredith, NH, Charlene Sullivan and her husband James of FL, John Gath and his wife Lorelei of Billerica, Joseph Gath and his wife Deborah of Tewksbury and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life between 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020, at the Tewksbury Country Club, 1880 Main St. Tewksbury. The Tewksbury Funeral Home is again honored to serve the Gath family. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN. 38148-0142 are encouraged. Visit: tewksburyfuneralhome.com