Gardner L. Cahoon

Gardner L. Cahoon, Sr., 93, of Peterborough, died peacefully Friday February 27, 2015 at the Monadnock Community Hospital, following a period of failing health.

He was born March 25, 1921 in Gloucester, MA, son of the late Frank and Helen (Daggett) Cahoon.

He was a 1938 graduate of Gloucester High School and entered the United States Army Air Corps immediately after graduation. He served in the American Theater and the Canal Zone.
While home on leave, in April 1944, he met Mary Adams Abbott, also of Gloucester, MA, on a blind date. They were married four months later on August 20, 1944, and remained married for 67 years.

After the service, Gardner earned his Associates Degree in Accounting from Bentley College. He retired in 1981 as an accountant with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, United Technologies, in Connecticut following twenty six years with the firm. Earlier he had worked as an office manager with Sealtest Ice Cream at various plants throughout the Northeast.

Gardner and Mary had lived in Rocky Hill, CT, for thirty years until his retirement. Then he and Mary enjoyed traveling in their RV. They lived in Tucson, AZ for nine years and Chehalis, Washington for 19 years. Upon Mary’s death in 2011 Gardner moved back to New England to be close to family. He was proud to say that in sixty seven years of marriage he had lived in nine states.

He was an active volunteer. With Mary, he co-founded Tele-Care in Washington. He was the treasurer of an organization that provided shelters and transitional housing. He was a Deacon of the Presbyterian Church of the United States and a Trustee of the Rocky Hill Congregational Church.

He was a dedicated fan of the University of Arizona Wildcats basketball team.

Survivors include his three sons, Gary R. Cahoon and wife Cynthia of Peterborough, NH, Donald R Cahoon and wife Elizabeth of Columbia, MD., and Gardner L. Cahoon, Jr and wife Robin of Soddy-Daisy TN; eleven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; Sister in-law Helen Johnson of Gloucester, MA, and several nieces and nephews from Cape Ann, MA.

There will be no calling hours.

Private committal in Rose Hill Cemetery, Rocky Hill, CT will be at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Peterborough Ambulance Squad, Summer St., Peterborough, NH 03458.

To view an online memorial, send a condolence to the family or for more information, please visit www.cournoyerfh.com.