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Former Worcester police chief died after 2nd cancer battle, surrounded by family
Former Worcester Chief of Police Gary Gemme died last week, surrounded by his family, following his second battle with cancer, his obituary read.
Jim Croce's 1973 song 'I've Got a Name' played at the time of his death, his family wrote.
Gemme died on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at his home in Shrewsbury, the Telegram & Gazette reported. He was 71.
Born Dec. 12, 1953, Gemme grew up in Worcester's Grafton Hill neighborhood, his family wrote. He attended Holy Name High School, followed by North High School, where he met 'and fell in love with Donna Bechard,' the obituary read. The two were married for 50 years.
'They loved dining out in Worcester and hosting large family dinners and holidays at their home on Crestlan Drive,' the family said. 'They traveled often, and loved domestic and international travel alike. Some of their favorite memories were their trips to Italy and New Zealand, as well as Hawaii and the Grand Canyon. In recent years, they golfed together at least once a week, the true proof of their love for one another.'
Gemme continued his education with a bachelor's degree in history from Worcester State College, a Master of Business Administration from Nichols College and a master's in criminal justice from Anna Maria College, his family wrote.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran and graduated from the FBI National Academy before he joined the police department and served for 33 years, the Worcester Police Department said in a statement. He rose through the ranks, being promoted to sergeant in 1990, lieutenant in 1993, captain in 1995 and deputy chief in 2000.
'Gary Gemme was a dedicated public servant who committed his life to the city of Worcester and its citizens,' Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said in the statement. 'His contributions will never be forgotten.'
In his retirement, Gemme took his iPad and started writing what became his first novel, his obituary read. Released in 2018, 'Margaret's Dove: A Novel,' his self-published love story set on Cape Cod, won first place in the Mill City Press Author Awards and a silver medal in the Independent Book Publishers Association awards. Gemme followed this with another novel and a book of poetry.
Gemme was later diagnosed with leukemia before he received a bone marrow transplant from his youngest son, Matthew, on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, 2020.
'I got a tremendous gift. I got the gift of life from my son on Valentine's Day,' Gemme told MassLive. 'It's emotional for me, there is really a bond there.'
'Gary was a lover of nature and sports, reading and word games, but his most cherished role was Grumpy,' his family wrote. 'He loved spending time with, and spoiling equally, each of his eight grandchildren. Gary was also a tremendous friend, and appreciated grabbing a coffee, golfing and talking politics with so many of his closest companions.'
Gemme is survived by his wife Donna, their three children, eight grandchildren and several cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws, 'all of whom came to support Gary and his family in his final days,' his obituary read.
Gemme's funeral services were held privately, and the family thanked the Mercandante Funeral Home & Chapel at 370 Plantation St.
'In lieu of flowers, the Gemme family asks that we all take our loved ones out to dinner sometime soon,' the obituary concluded. 'We recommend Italian.'
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Read the original article on MassLive.
