Obituary for Gerald Thomas "Gerry" Colpoys
Gerald T. “Gerry” Colpoys, 89, a resident of Kennebunk, ME, formerly a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Jacqueline T. “Jackie” Colpoys with whom he shared 53 years of marriage until her passing in 2012.
Gerry was born in Glens Falls, NY on April 22, 1932, and was the son of the late Henry and Mary (Lawler) Colpoys. His brother the late Henry “Joseph” Colpoys of Williamstown, MA predeceased him in 2017.
He grew up in Hudson Falls, NY where he was an altar boy for many years, spent his summers at Lake George and graduated High School in 1949. He was recruited into the U.S. Army in 1952 during the Korean Conflict where he attended Radar School and was stationed in Alaska. Receiving an Honorable Discharge, he attended Syracuse University, joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. In 1959 he married Jacqueline McEneny and moved to Baltimore, MD. His early engineering career led him to a NASA tracking station in South Africa to support John Glenn’s historic mission to orbit the earth in 1962. Gerry and Jackie then relocated to Chelmsford, MA where they lived for 37 years, raising their 4 children as he worked at Raytheon Missile Systems Division.
Gerry & Jackie loved to travel throughout New England and New York, especially to York Beach, ME (where Gerry was Beach Bocci King!) and Lake George, NY. Upon retirement in 1997 they built a home in Kennebunk, ME where they have enjoyed coastal living and spending time with their 8 grandchildren. Gerry was a devoted Catholic with a kind and humble heart. His family was his top priority and his greatest joy.
Gerry leaves his four children; Michael Colpoys of Sanford, ME, Timothy Colpoys and his wife Laurie of Rowley, MA, Kathryn Colpoys of Kennebunk, ME, and Patrick Colpoys and his wife Allison of Chelmsford, eight grandchildren; Jessica, Christopher, Olivia, Jack, Stephen, Rosalie, Thomas, and Jonathan. He is survived by his sister-in-law Louise Thayer of FL, nephew Scott Thayer, niece Janet Elliot both of NY, niece Liz Costley and her husband Tom of Williamstown, MA and his lifelong friend Joe Hogan of Latham, NY.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 4pm to 7 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 1:00 pm at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford. KINDLY GATHER AT THE CHURCH. Interment to follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southern Maine at www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org or by mail to 390 US Rte One, Scarborough, ME 04074.
Gerry was born in Glens Falls, NY on April 22, 1932, and was the son of the late Henry and Mary (Lawler) Colpoys. His brother the late Henry “Joseph” Colpoys of Williamstown, MA predeceased him in 2017.
He grew up in Hudson Falls, NY where he was an altar boy for many years, spent his summers at Lake George and graduated High School in 1949. He was recruited into the U.S. Army in 1952 during the Korean Conflict where he attended Radar School and was stationed in Alaska. Receiving an Honorable Discharge, he attended Syracuse University, joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. In 1959 he married Jacqueline McEneny and moved to Baltimore, MD. His early engineering career led him to a NASA tracking station in South Africa to support John Glenn’s historic mission to orbit the earth in 1962. Gerry and Jackie then relocated to Chelmsford, MA where they lived for 37 years, raising their 4 children as he worked at Raytheon Missile Systems Division.
Gerry & Jackie loved to travel throughout New England and New York, especially to York Beach, ME (where Gerry was Beach Bocci King!) and Lake George, NY. Upon retirement in 1997 they built a home in Kennebunk, ME where they have enjoyed coastal living and spending time with their 8 grandchildren. Gerry was a devoted Catholic with a kind and humble heart. His family was his top priority and his greatest joy.
Gerry leaves his four children; Michael Colpoys of Sanford, ME, Timothy Colpoys and his wife Laurie of Rowley, MA, Kathryn Colpoys of Kennebunk, ME, and Patrick Colpoys and his wife Allison of Chelmsford, eight grandchildren; Jessica, Christopher, Olivia, Jack, Stephen, Rosalie, Thomas, and Jonathan. He is survived by his sister-in-law Louise Thayer of FL, nephew Scott Thayer, niece Janet Elliot both of NY, niece Liz Costley and her husband Tom of Williamstown, MA and his lifelong friend Joe Hogan of Latham, NY.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 4pm to 7 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 1:00 pm at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford. KINDLY GATHER AT THE CHURCH. Interment to follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southern Maine at www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org or by mail to 390 US Rte One, Scarborough, ME 04074.