Obituary for John D. "Don" Gilbride Jr.
John D. “Don” Gilbride, Jr., age 60, a longtime resident of Dunstable, passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, December 24, 2022.
Born in Lowell on May 28, 1962, Don was the son of John D. Sr. and Mary Lou “Clegg” Gilbride.
Don grew up in Chelmsford, graduating from Chelmsford High school in 1980. He attended University of Lowell before pursuing his career as a Master Electrician. Don founded his company, Gilbride Electric, Inc in 1984. He went on to serve greater New England for over 38 years. He was passionate about his work and loved spending his time getting to know and serve his customers. Through the years, he developed many close, long-term friendships with his customers and local vendors. Everyone that knew Don, knew his kindness and generosity, and knew they could always rely on his support. His enthusiasm, expertise, and can-do attitude will be missed. His absence will be felt deeply within his professional community.
Don enjoyed spending time outdoors in nature, whether he was fishing, boating or traveling to his vacation homes in Costa Rica and the Florida Keys. He enjoyed many trips with his family from snowmobiling in NH White Mountains to ATV riding at the top of the Costa Rican mountains. Don always wanted to give back to this world and he offered his help where he could, whether he was aiding a baby bird, a squirrel, or deer. His long-time dream was to retire in Montana where he could be closer to the animals he most loved – his beloved wild mustangs. He enjoyed the solitude of writing, riding his motorcycles and rebuilding antique cars.
He will be remembered by his family and friends as an animal lover and as someone who always saw the goodness in others, attracting new friends everywhere he went with his playful, outgoing nature.
Don is survived by his two children, Cassidy Gilbride and her fiancé Jake Hunt of Pelham, NH, and his son, Jonathan Gilbride of Dunstable. Brother of three sisters, Joanne Boucher and her husband Gerard of Carlisle, MA, Jacqueline McKenna and her husband Ken of Dunstable, MA and SueEllen Peterson and her husband Paul of Chelmsford. He will be missed by his four nieces and nephew, many cousins, aunts and uncles.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Patrick and Mary Gilbride of Chelmsford and maternal grandparents, Arthur and Loretta Clegg of Lowell.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, December 29th from 4pm to 7pm at the Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 11am. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Don’s memory to https://americanwildhorsecampaign.org.
Born in Lowell on May 28, 1962, Don was the son of John D. Sr. and Mary Lou “Clegg” Gilbride.
Don grew up in Chelmsford, graduating from Chelmsford High school in 1980. He attended University of Lowell before pursuing his career as a Master Electrician. Don founded his company, Gilbride Electric, Inc in 1984. He went on to serve greater New England for over 38 years. He was passionate about his work and loved spending his time getting to know and serve his customers. Through the years, he developed many close, long-term friendships with his customers and local vendors. Everyone that knew Don, knew his kindness and generosity, and knew they could always rely on his support. His enthusiasm, expertise, and can-do attitude will be missed. His absence will be felt deeply within his professional community.
Don enjoyed spending time outdoors in nature, whether he was fishing, boating or traveling to his vacation homes in Costa Rica and the Florida Keys. He enjoyed many trips with his family from snowmobiling in NH White Mountains to ATV riding at the top of the Costa Rican mountains. Don always wanted to give back to this world and he offered his help where he could, whether he was aiding a baby bird, a squirrel, or deer. His long-time dream was to retire in Montana where he could be closer to the animals he most loved – his beloved wild mustangs. He enjoyed the solitude of writing, riding his motorcycles and rebuilding antique cars.
He will be remembered by his family and friends as an animal lover and as someone who always saw the goodness in others, attracting new friends everywhere he went with his playful, outgoing nature.
Don is survived by his two children, Cassidy Gilbride and her fiancé Jake Hunt of Pelham, NH, and his son, Jonathan Gilbride of Dunstable. Brother of three sisters, Joanne Boucher and her husband Gerard of Carlisle, MA, Jacqueline McKenna and her husband Ken of Dunstable, MA and SueEllen Peterson and her husband Paul of Chelmsford. He will be missed by his four nieces and nephew, many cousins, aunts and uncles.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Patrick and Mary Gilbride of Chelmsford and maternal grandparents, Arthur and Loretta Clegg of Lowell.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, December 29th from 4pm to 7pm at the Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 11am. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Don’s memory to https://americanwildhorsecampaign.org.