Gary W. Palmieri
Gary W. Palmieri, 74, passed away Friday, January 15,2021, at The Maples Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility Wrentham, Ma, after a lengthy illness. He was the loving husband of Mary Ellen (Hodgins) Palmieri, to whom he was married for 47 years.
Gary was born on December 17, 1946, in Bangor, Maine and was the loving son of the late Marco and Charlotte (Page), Palmieri.
Gary spent his youth in Orono, Brewer, and Pushaw Lake in Maine. Growing up, his fondest memories were his visits to cousins in Connecticut and summers at the camp on Pushaw Lake. He loved to golf and rooting for the Yankees. As a student at John Bapst High School in Bangor, Maine, Gary was active in school sports and activities and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. Gary was a 1965 graduate of John Bapst and a 1970 graduate from the University of Maine, Orono, with a Bachelors’s in Education.
Gary worked for over 20 years with McDonald’s Corporation in Maine and Massachusetts and was a franchise owner from 1990-1996. Gary continued working in the restaurant business until his retirement in 2005. In retirement, Gary spent time with his family and grandchildren on trips to Chincoteague Island, Virginia.
Gary was a longtime resident of Mansfield and was active in his community and with his children’s lives. It was not uncommon to find Gary working the sidelines at his son’s high school football games. Family was truly the focal point of his life and always came first. He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen of Mansfield, daughters Stacey and husband Guy and Tammy and husband Bob Conner both of Winthrop, Maine, sons Gary and wife Kerry Palmieri of Franklin,MA, Ryan and wife Jacquelyn Palmieri of Mansfield, MA, Nicholas, and wife Bianca Palmieri of Franklin, MA, and Jason Palmieri of Marion,MA, in addition to many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brothers Joseph (Sue) Palmieri, of Bangor, ME, and Mark (Carol) Palmieri of St. Johnsbury, VT.
Gary is predeceased by his brother Richard and sister Vanessa.
Gary will be fondly remembered and loved by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law in Maine and an aunt and uncle in Colorado, and many nieces and nephews and cousins from Maine and Connecticut.
As a memorial to Gary, family, and friends are encouraged to make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Many special thanks to his caregivers from the Rockport unit at Maples, who showed Gary love and compassion for many years.
Due to the current restrictions with Covid-19, all services will be privately held by the immediate family.
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Mary Ellen, Ron and I send you our deepest condolences. He will be remembered fondly. He seemed to always be smiling. I am so glad that I got to spend some time with him when he and Joe were at camp. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Love, Patti and Ron
Sending love thoughts you and all the families ❤️❤️
We are so sorry for your loss.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
The Flaherty Family
Mary Ellen, Gary T., Ryan, Nick, and Jason, we are so sorry for your loss and send our warmest thoughts and prayers to you all. We wish we could be there to lend our support and give a HUG. ❤️. I will miss my cousin. Love you all. Patty and Dave Mastracchio.
Maryellen and family I am so sorry for your loss. We lost a great neighbor and The heavens have gained a friend welcoming ambassador. He will be missed. Best memory one day I saw him in my backyard. I asked him what are you doin? He was weeding out dandelions for me. He said you gotta keep ahead of them or they will take over.
Mary ellen and family Im so sorry to hear about gary’s passing many thoughts and prayers to all of you from an old mansfield neighbor
Dear Mary Ellen and wonderful family. I was three months old as a Priest when I arrived in Brewer and my journey began with Gary. I do have many fond memories to say the least of Mom, Dad and Joe. I left Brewer in 1970.I would next hear from Joe who came to Brewer, Maine in May of 2010 for my 50th Anniversary of Ordination and has since sent e-mails these past ten years. May of good Lord continue to embrace you and your wonderful children. You were all very special to Gary when I arrived a letter from him some years. He was very proud of you. Mass will be offered Tuesday January 19th.Love Father Richard Rice.
Mary Ellen and family, please accept my deepest condolence. Words cannot express my sadness for losing a friend that in many ways taught me how to move forward in life no matter what the obstacles were. He had that smile and he had the words to keep you going. He was there when you needed someone to talk to and always coming up with ideas to put things in perspective. I can only say “Thank you for being you”. You will be missed but never forgotten. Within your family, you will always be around. Mary Ellen thank you for all things you did over the years to keep everything together.
Mary Ellen and family, I am sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Judy
Gary was my JV basketball coach, assistant football coach, Phys. Ed instructor and my boss for several months after high school. I always liked and respected him. My condolences to my former classmate Mary Ellen and the entire family in this time of loss.
His whole life he was a happy great guy. Lot of fun days at bapst. My prayers go out to you and your family. You were a star in high school and now you’re among them in heaven. God bless you. Kerry Cox class of 1965,
To Mary Ellen and Family. I send my Heartfelt Condolences to you and your entire Family. My First memories of Gary go back to his assisting and coaching CYO kids from the Parish schools back in the late 60’s. I also remember Gary playing for the Great Bapst Football team’s of coach Perone. last but not least his time as our Phys. Ed instructor when I attended Bapst. God Bless and keep your Memories close as I do of him and the Special time he shared with me in my Life.
Bill Collins JBHS Class of 72
When Gary and I and many others were young pups growing up in Brewer we played Babe Ruth Baseball together. Additionally we were classmates at Brewer Jr. High School back in the early 60’s. My condolence to Gary’s entire family. Gary was a wonderful person and true childhood friend. I am sorry for your loss.
Mary Ellen and family you are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Gary was a wonderful brother and uncle to our girls and he will be missed very much. Being only eighteen months younger gave me the opportunity to grow up with him side by side. I will always cherish those memories and know that we will all see him again some day. Love thoughts and prayers to you, Gary’s daughters and his son’s.
Joe and Sue
Mary Ellen. My deepest condolences. Gary was always a lot of fun during high school. I was the one that had a car during school and was the taxi after football practice. My thoughts go out to you and family. Stay safe.
Joe, I’m so sorry to hear about your brother Gary. He was a great multi-sport athlete growing up and a true, honest, well respected man in adulthood. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. In this challenging time, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences. Ron Kidder
Knew Gary in college at Maine. Very saddened by his passing. Such a great guy! I always wondered what happened to him, it sounds like he had a great life with a great family. I do remember him well and liked him. God bless you all in his passing.
Mary Ellen and family,
Very sorry to hear of Gary’s (Coach Palmier”s) passing. He was my basketball coach, at Bapst. He always had a smile. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Mickey(Michele Nadeau) Hogan
Mary Ellen and the sons, so sorry for your loss. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.
Great memories in Framingham.