1926 - 2015
Visitation
December 27, 20152-6P.M.
Dolan Funeral Home
Funeral
December 28, 201510A.M. DFH 11A.M. Church
All Saints Episcopal Church
Alfred “Al” M. Gorham, Jr., 89, father of a well-known family died Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at the Palm Center in Chelmsford.
The only son of the late Alfred M. and Ruth (Lawton) Gorham, he was born in Chelmsford on August 10, 1926, was educated in the local schools. A resident of Chelmsford for most of his life, Al was active in many community affairs, including serving on the Boards of Directors of the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. He was instrumental in establishing the CYO at St. Mary’s Church in Chelmsford, where he served as an adult advisor and coach of baseball and basketball for both boys and girls, as well as for girls softball for almost twenty years. He received the Pro Deo Et Juvent Tantau (for God and Youth) Award from Cardinal Cushing for work in the parish and the Lowell Deanery. Most recently, he was a communicant of All Saints Episcopal Church in Chelmsford.
Al worked as an Insurance Agent with Prudential Life Insurance Co. for 20 years and was the first to receive the company’s Distinguished Professional Service Award.
A World War II veteran having served with the 134th Seabees on Guam, Al was an active member of the area veterans groups, including the American Legion Post 1, New Bedford; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9262, Chelmsford, where he served as Past Commander and the DAV Post 47 in Billerica. He was a life member of the VFW Post 662 of Lowell. He also was a founding member of the Chelmsford Veteran’s Memorial Park Committee as well as a Board member of the Commission on Disabilities, and founder of the Tower of Glory in Wareham. In addition, Al held membership in the National Association of Past Commanders, VFW, The United States Navy Memorial and the Insurance Industry Citizen Action Network in Washington, DC.
He is survived by two daughters, Kathleen A. Kostic and her husband Mark of Swedesboro, NJ, Jacqueline Kellett and her husband K. Robert of Mount Airy, NC; two sons, Kevin M. Gorham and his wife Suzanne (Butler) of Rochester, NH and Mark E. Gorham and his wife, Mary Pat (Finnerty) of Lowell; a daughter in-law, Joanne (Coole) Gorham of Chelmsford; ten grandchildren, Timothy D. Gorham, Brittany Roberts, James G. Kostic, Harrison E. Gorham and Connor G. Gorham, Mark Gorham Jr., Jonathan Gorham, Jessica Wiitala, Michael and Jared Kuczwara; four great grandchildren; a sister Doris Abreu and her husband Joseph of Pinellas Park, FL; several nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late David G. Gorham who died in 2000 and brother of the late Ruth A. Gorham, who died in 1946; the late Althea Stolphner who died in 2010; and Nancy Scott who died in 2015.
Visiting hours Sun. 2 to 6 p.m. at the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, MA. A Funeral Service will be held Mon. at 11AM at All Saints Episcopal Church, 10 Billerica Rd., Chelmsford, MA. Burial in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford, MA. Memorials may be made in his name to the David G. Gorham Memorial Scholarship Fund, 10 Scott Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 or the Chelmsford Veterans’ Memorial Park, P.O. 141, Chelmsford, MA 01863. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com
Bob Kellett
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R.I.P Al. I will miss you Dad.
Karen Collins
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We are thinking of you and just know we are with you.
Alicia Rawnsley
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You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Kathy Finnerty Ryea
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So Sorry for your loss and thinking of all of you. RIP Al.
Stefanie Bishop
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Mark and family I am so sorry for your loss, you all are in my thoughts and prayers
Mickey and Elaine Hashem
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We were so sorry to hear of your father’s passing Kevin. We will be praying for you and your family.
Heidi Shea
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I have fond memories of Al and was sorry to hear of his passing. Kevin, Jackie, Mark, and Kathy, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Michael Kostic
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BIg Al might be gone — but he will never be forgotten — Rest in peace……
carolebrown269@hotmail.com
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To the family and friends of Al, my deepest condolences. Al lived down the hall from me and we had some great discussions about Chelmsford as we were both “townies”. He loved to reminisce about the early days of the town and how much it has changed. I shall miss Al and our occasional “chats”. He was a very interesting man and will be missed.
Michael A. Brown
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I just met Al last winter. My mother lived a couple doors down from him. Last winter, I would clean her car off and ended up helping him out as well. We ended up having some very interesting conversations. Ive always been a history buff, and talking about the Navy and his experiences was great. Rest in peace Al. You will be missed.
Carol Ann Hayton
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My deepest condolences to the Gorham family. I met Al when my mother used to live at the opposite end of the building where Al lived. He was the nicest man and loved his children. When I was visiting my mother he often came to visit us. He was charming, fun and always smiling. I knew he must not be well when I didn’t receive one of his beautiful Christmas cards this year.
May your memories bring you joy and comfort. May Al rest in peace.
Jack&karen carr
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We were very sorry to read that Al had passed. Many fond memories from our days at Prudential. Especially our road trip to New Orleans. He will be missed by family and all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
Maureen Cadden Deslaurier
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Kevin, Mark and family,
I am very sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.
Mike Carbone
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Kevin –
I’m so sorry for your loss. It sounds like he was a wonderful father.