Groveland, MA, Gerald H. “Gerry” Deshaies, 89, a resident of Nichols Village in Groveland and formerly of Haverhill, Massachusetts and Lewiston, Harpswell and Topsham, Maine, died peacefully on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, with his loving family by his side, following an extended illness.

Gerry was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine, son of the late Julian and Armande (Dumont) Deshaies. He attended Holy Family Grade School and graduated from St. Dominic High School with the Class of 1954. During his high school years he played the saxophone in the school band and was member of the football and hockey teams. He later earned engineering degrees from Wentworth Institute of Technology and Northeastern University.

Gerry served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman First Class and attended schooling in Airborne Instrumental Navigation and Radio Relay Communications. He was stationed in Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Korea and South Carolina and was honorably discharged from active service in 1959 and served as a member of the Air Force reserves until 1963.

Gerry was employed at Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies in North Andover, MA, as an engineer and manager. During that time, he also taught technical courses at Wentworth Institute. Following his retirement after thirty-five years of service he helped organize and instruct computer training programs for seniors in Lawrence, MA and Brunswick, Maine.

In 1996, Gerry and his wife Denise built a lovely home on Orr’s Cove in Harpswell Maine. They spent the next fifteen years enjoying having their children spend vacations swimming, boating, and fishing in Orr’s Cove. Then it became time to move on to a lovely low maintenance home in the retirement golf community of Highland Green in Topsham.

Active in many volunteer organizations since high school, Gerry was a member of the Holy Name Society and assisted Catholic and Protestant missions overseas. He was a former president of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society for several years as a member of Saint Joseph Parish of Haverhill. He also served for many years as a Eucharistic and Hospital Visitation Minister. While living in Haverhill, he coached Little League Baseball, and served as a coach and president of the Haverhill Youth Hockey Association. Gerry also served on several parish and community committees.

Gerry and Denise have always been devoted to their immediate and extended families. Together, they enjoyed visiting the fifty states. Their favorite campground was Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, NH. They also traveled extensively throughout Canada, Europe, Egypt and Asia. In addition to traveling, they enjoyed hiking, swimming, cross-country skiing, both square and round dancing, gardening and volunteer work. Gerry enjoyed downhill skiing, golfing and kayaking. His many hobbies included digital photography and computer technology. He also enjoyed assisting many friends with their computer needs. Every April 1st, family and friends anticipated receiving his annual “believe it or not” photo.

Gerry will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his devoted and loving wife of sixty-six years, Denise (Plante) Deshaies, three daughters; Julie Deshaies of Methuen, MA, Marie Kissel and her husband, Michael of Hampstead, NH, and Amy D’Arcy and her husband Matthew of Salisbury, MA, a son David Deshaies and his companion, Paula Gagnon, of Killington, VT; three grandsons, Mark Kissel of Danville, NH, Shane D’Arcy of Waltham, MA and Joshua D’Arcy of Amesbury, MA; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Andre and Pat Deshaies of Harpswell, ME, and Paul and Helen Deshaies of Old Orchard Beach, ME; a sister-in-law, Madeleine Ashe of Belmont, MA, four great grandchildren, Cody and Lexi Mulcahy and Noah and Eli Ramirez, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gerry will be remembered as one who deeply cared with love and concern for each and every person in his life and that he lived with gratitude for a lifetime of love and happiness that he shared with his wife and children. He was also proud of his writing and the publishing of a book of his memoirs.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours to be held on Friday, July 31, 2026 from 4 to 7 p. m. and again on Saturday morning August 1, 2026 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. Gerry’s funeral service will begin on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the chapel of the funeral home and conclude with the rendering of military honors by the U.S. Air Force in the Veterans Memorial Plaza on the grounds of the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the charity of the donor’s choice. To send a message of condolence to the family or to share a cherished memory please visit: brooksidechapelfh.com.