Richard J. Gatesman, 84, formerly of 34 Gates Hollow, Bradford, passed away, Monday, August 23, 2021, at Pink Bud Nursing Home in Greenwood AR.
Born in Bradford November 15, 1936, a son of the late Robert A. and Agnes (Kane) Gatesman. He was raised in Foster Brook and was a 1954 graduate of Bradford High School.
On September 21,1954 he enlisted in the United States Navy and served until honorably discharged on October 15, 1957. He was then employed as a machinist at McDonnell Douglas.
He married Carolyn Boulia in Lakewood, CA on September 6, 1958, and was happily married for 57 years, until her passing on May 12, 2016.
Serving as a Professional Fire Fighter for more than 40 years, he started his career at the Huntington Beach Fire Department, in Huntington Beach, CA where he served until returning to Bradford in 1971. Shortly afterward he joined the City of Bradford Fire Department where he continued to serve until his retirement in 1998.
Throughout those years he also worked as an EMT, a delivery person at Zega Distributing, and as a Security Guard at Bradford Regional Medical Center.
He was a long-standing volunteer and proud participant of UpBeat at Bradford Regional Medical Center. He loved to hunt and fish and have breakfast with his children at John Williams European Pastry Shop whenever they were in town.
He was a lifetime member of St. Bernard Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Judith (Tom) MacCabe, of Richmond, VA, and Monica Gatesman, of Monroe, NC, and four sons, Richard “John" (Teresa) Gatesman, of The Woodlands, TX, David Gatesman, of York, PA, Mathew Gatesman, of Pittsburgh, PA and Stephen (Toni) Gatesman, of Greenwood, AR. He is also survived by one sister, Kathy Strohman, of Altoona, PA, 19 Grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carolyn, one sister Nancy Foster, and one grandson Andrew MacCabe.
Family will receive friends on Monday, August 30, 2021, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc. 33 South Avenue. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, in St. Bernard Church with Fr. Jim Gutting, Senior Associate, as Celebrant.
For those not able to attend in person this service will be live streamed at 11:00 AM via this link: https://bit.ly/3kqKDRX
Following the Mass, Military Honor's will be accorded by members of the United States Navy and the Honor Guard from the American Legion Post 108 of Bradford in St. Bernard Mausoleum.
Memorial contributions if desired may be made to, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com