Gerald L Harrington Obituary – Pelham, NH, NH

Gerald L. “Gary” Harrington

OBITUARY

Retired Businessman, U.S. Navy Veteran, and Lifelong Adventurer

Pelham, NH

Gerald Lawrence “Gary” Harrington, age 83, passed away peacefully from pneumonia on Monday, May 19, 2025, at his beloved home in Pelham, New Hampshire. In his final days, he was surrounded by the love of his family in the very home where so many unforgettable gatherings and dinners had taken place over the years.

Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Gary was the youngest of four siblings and a proud graduate of Lynn English High School in Lynn, Massachusetts, Class of 1958. He met the love of his life, May (Dawson) Harrington, at the Harp and Bard Pub in Danvers, MA. They were married six months later, beginning a partnership that would span 56 years and countless adventures. Together, they raised two sons, Gary and Sean.

Gary lived an extraordinary life marked by service, success, and deep personal connection. He served honorably in the United States Navy as a proud diesel submariner during the beginning stages of the Vietnam War. Aboard the “Blue Gil”, he was onboard the first US submarine to navigate up the Saigon River in Vietnam. He earned his “dolphins” in 1959 and served aboard three submarines during a time when diesel power ruled the seas. By the age of 18, he had already circled the globe multiple times underwater, traveling from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, Vladivostok, Okinawa, and beyond. As a sonar operator, his role was to identify the unique sound signatures of allied and enemy vessels—work he performed with focus and distinction.

After his Navy service, Gary launched a successful career in the furniture industry. He was a consummate professional—an expert in merchandising, design, sales training, and customer relations. He built and led his own manufacturers’ representative business and served as President of the New England Home Furnishing Association. His clients included some of the most successful furniture stores across New England. In his field, he was known as a masterclass in sales and relationship-building.

To those who knew him, Gary was more than a businessman or veteran—he was a man of immense wisdom and unwavering character. He led with integrity, inspired others through action, and remained deeply intentional in his conversations. Whether discussing career choices, politics, faith, or life’s passions, his words were always thoughtful, honest, and grounded in high ideals.

To his family, Gary was simply “Pops”—the patriarch and the heart of their lives. He created unforgettable adventures: 30-mile canoe trips through the wilderness, ocean voyages through eight-foot swells, and countless camping and boating trips that brought everyone closer to nature and to each other. He wore his role as leader with humility and joy, so often putting others in life enriching situations.

Gary was a proud veteran and a longtime member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He volunteered for many years as a tour guide aboard the decommissioned submarines in Fall River, Massachusetts. With unmatched knowledge and passion, he explained every valve, hatch, and pipe—skills that all submariners were required to master in the unforgiving conditions of underwater deployment.

He was a dedicated father and fan, especially during his sons’ high school and college wrestling careers. With his wife May and many other family members, he traveled across the country to support his boys, forging friendships with wrestlers and families everywhere. His voice was always the loudest in the gym, cheering not only for his sons but for the many athletes who had come to admire and respect him. For his grandchildren, this trend continued in force. Always a constant at every sporting and celebration event that his body would allow for those children. Again, one of the loudest in the stands, as he would bang his cane and yell with everything he had.

Gary’s adventurous and generous spirit never faded. He loved to be surrounded by friends and family in extraordinary settings, talking about life’s deeper meanings. For nearly 20 years, his home was the site of legendary Tuesday night dinners, open to all. St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve were always celebrated in grand fashion—reflecting his love for tradition, joy, and community.

A devoted member of the New England Bible Church in Andover, Massachusetts, Gary lived a life rooted in Christian values. In 2015, he traveled to Guatemala on a church mission to help build a new place of worship for a local community—a journey that reflected both his faith and his giving heart.

Gary will be remembered by so many for his warmth, insight, and the rare ability to listen deeply and counsel wisely. Friends and family turned to him for advice they could trust. For those without fathers, Gary often filled that role with grace and compassion, earning lifelong bonds with many of his sons’ friends that endured over four decades.

A lover of nature and animals, Gary felt most at home in the outdoors—on a boat, by a river, or in the woods. His passion for exploration shaped the lives of those around him and left a legacy of curiosity, courage, and care.

Gary is survived by his loving wife, May Harrington, and his two sons: Gary and Jacqueline Harrington of Pelham, NH, and Sean and Jacqueline Harrington of Dracut, MA. He will be dearly missed by his five grandchildren: Michael, Madeline, Cassidy, Sophia, and Isabella.

He was a remarkable man who lived a remarkable life—and his spirit will live on in the many lives he touched.

Friends may call on Wednesday, May 28,2025, at the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME, 11 NASHUA RD. in PELHAM from 4 to 7 P.M. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Service to be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at the NEW ENGLAND BIBLE CHURCH, 60 Chandler Rd., Andover, MA. Burial to follow at the Gibson Cemetery in Pelham, NH. E-condolences/directions at www.pelhamfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to can make checks payable to NE Bible Church, 60 Chandler Road, Andover, MA. These donations will go exclusively to help fund the missionary work in Guatemala. NE Bible Church is sending a dental team there in October to provide free dental care. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (603) 635-3333.