ATHOL- Laurie C. “Frenchie” Gauvin, 76, formerly of Athol, died on Thursday evening, February 17, 2022 at Alliance Health at Baldwinville.
Born in Gardner on May 10, 1945, he was the son of the late Jean A. and Alice M. (Duguay) Gauvin, and graduated from Athol High School in 1963 and then moved on to join the United States Coast Guard. He was on the Coast Guard USS Icebreaker Edisto. Laurie was stationed in Cape May, NJ and Gloucester, MA. He was presented a letter of accommodation from the Commander of the Coast Guard for his act of bravery as he and his shipmates rescued fisherman from a small boat, in 38 foot seas, and also received a National Defense Medal, Coast Guard Unit Commendation and Good Conduct Medal, before being honorably discharged on June 30, 1969.
Frenchie worked at he former Union Butterfield in Athol and also took great pride in being a call fireman for the Athol Fire Department.
Frenchie loved Plum Island and lived on the island and worked for “Captain’s Fishing Parties”. He also served as a Merchant Marine and worked many container ships, and had claimed to have traveled around the world 6 times. He also loved visiting Petite Lameque, New Brunswick. Later in life, Frenchie worked for the DCR at the Quabbin Reservoir.
After retirement, he enjoyed fishing in North Spec Pond at the family camp. He truly enjoyed sharing his expertise to the children and adults alike, in the art of catching fish. Frenchie’s biggest catch was back when he fished for tuna. He landed a tuna, with a hand line, one that weighed in at over 1100 pounds!
In the spring, he loved to help his brother boil sap at the sugarhouse in North Orange.
He was an excellent photographer and loved taking many pictures of his life’s adventures.
Survivors include his siblings, Alice Zanga and her husband, Larry, of Athol, Janet Bullock of Punta Gorda, Florida, Norma Miarecki of Henderson, Nevada, Jerry Gauvin and his wife, Shirley, of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, John Gauvin of Athol and Richard Gauvin and his wife, Deborah, of North Orange; as well as many nephews and nieces and grandnephews and grandnieces.
There are no calling hours.
Services and interment in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon, will be at a later date.
Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.
Guest book online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Laurie C. "Frenchie" Gauvin, please visit our floral store.