Sanford- Gary L Guertin, 59, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Gary was born on May 30, 1962, in Biddeford, a son of Roger “Red” and Connie (Bernier) Guertin.
Gary attended Sanford schools, graduating from Sanford High School in 1981.
Gary worked hard his whole life, from cooking and bussing tables at his family’s diner to foundation work at Genest and years at Sprague’s in Sanford. In 2001 he went to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. His second day of work at the “Yard” was 9/11/2001. In more recent years he poured his heart and soul into union work and ultimately became the VP of the Metal Trades Council. He was deeply proud of that work and always wanted the average joe to have a fair shake in the work place.
Gary’s had a huge love of sports. As a teenager he spent a few summers in Boston with his dad and attended countless Red Sox games. He always loved reflecting on those days. But Gary’s greatest passion in the sports world was the Dallas Cowboys. He was a fan since the Roger Staubach years and his faith in them never wavered. He was a #1 fan of Emmitt Smith and never held it against him that he went on Dancing with the Stars. A bucket list item that was unfortunately never fulfilled was a trip to Dallas for a Thanksgiving Day game. Gary also truly enjoyed attending the Sanford High sports games. He was a fixture at the Friday night football games and travelled all over southern Maine to watch “Uncle” Jake’s basketball team play. He was very old school about the Sanford teams and never really came to terms with the change from Redskins to Spartans but he still loved them just the same.
Gary also had a love of travel. He and his wife Tammy enjoyed taking off and seeing where the road took them. A trip to Bar Harbor holds very precious memories and Gary later revealed that a trip to San Diego sealed the deal for him knowing he was going to propose marriage.
Gary did surprise Tammy with a proposal on Christmas Eve 2016 with their children present. They took their vows in the backyard of their home on August 10, 2019.
Gary cherished his children and grandchildren. He loved attending Brody and Jaxson’s hockey practices and games and just spending time with the family. He took the kids for rides on the lawn mower and set up the sprinkler to cool off the kids on a hot summer day. Sundays were family times with a homemade meal and football. Gary loved to host BBQ’s and play a “friendly” game of horseshoes. He was also known to host a few “staff meetings”. He enjoyed getting together with friends to go out to eat or just stay home and play cards. He always jokingly referred to a bad poker hand as a “paragoric”. Gary was dealt a paragoric hand with this terrible disease but he ultimately turned it into a 4 of a kind 2/2/22.
Gary had a very close relationship with his future son in law Cody Rich. In the last few months of Gary’s life, Cody’s presence, in particular, would light up Gary and took his mind off his illness. They bonded over football and sports and it provided some hours where Gary could just feel “normal” for awhile.
Gary is survived by his loving wife Tammy; his children, Justin and partner Chelsea Elliott; Brittany “BooBoo” and fiancé Cody Rich; bonus daughter Sarah Bickford; Grandchildren, Emily, Eric, Brody, Jaxson, Eli and Maddilynn; brother Thomas Guertin; sister Nancy Mills and husband Darrell; Nephews Matthew Guertin and his wife Courtney, “Uncle” Jake Mills and his wife Kayla; Niece and Goddaughter Mandi-Lee Mills and fiancé Dan Grant. Gary was predeceased by both of his parents, his sister-in-law Janice Guertin and his bonus daughter Heather Bickford.
The family would like to thank the staff from MaineHealth Care at Home; Hospice of Southern Maine and especially the Gosnell House for providing us a soft landing spot.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 10am at the St Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, 66 North St, Sanford Me. Immediately following, a Celebration of Life gathering will be held at the Amvets in Sanford, 169 School St, Sanford, Me.
In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org
Condolences and tributes may be shared with their families at www.mainefuneral.com
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday Feb. 12 at 10 AM at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, 66 North Ave., Sanford.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com