Stephen L. Gervais

Stephen L. Gervais, Sr.
Beloved husband, father,

grandfather, and brother;

President of Gervais Ford in Ayer

LOWELL -- Stephen L. Gervais, Sr., 77, of Lowell, a well known Greater Lowell businessman, died Thursday, January 15th, at his home with his loving family by his side.

He was the beloved husband of Maureen R. (Reardon) Gervais, who survives him, and with whom he recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on August 13, 2014.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, October 14, 1937, the son of the late John J. Gervais, Sr. and the late Margaret (Reynolds) Gervais, he attended the Immaculate Conception School and was a graduate of Lowell High School in the Class of 1955. He then went on to attend Lowell Commercial College, and proudly served his country in the 187th Army Reserve Unit Infantry Brigade.

Steve started an automobile business with his brothers in 1961 following his military service, and sold many different brands in Ayer, Billerica, and Lowell. For most of his career he served as President of Gervais Ford in Ayer and had worked in the automobile industry for over 53 years.

A lifelong communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell, he was active with his parish, having served on the Immaculate Conception Finance Committee and was a Past Chairman and current member of the ICS Golf Tournament Committee.

Among his many activities and accomplishments, he was past President of the Ayer, Harvard and Shirley Rotary Club, the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, and was a board member of Nashoba Deaconess Hospital. He was also a former board member of the North Middlesex Savings Bank, the New England Ford Dealers Council, the Devens Enterprise Commission and AUSA (Association of the U.S. Army).

A former member of the Board of Trustees of Saints Medical Center, he was a longtime member of Vesper Country Club where he also served on the Executive Committee. He was also a member of both Long Meadow Golf Club and the Lanam Club in Andover.

A humble and private supporter of his church and his community, Steve never sought recognition for his efforts, but was nonetheless honored with the first ever Immaculate Conception Distinguished Alumni Award, the Lowell Catholic High School Bishop McNamara Award, the Archdiocese of Boston Cheverus Award and several other accolades from the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his wife, Maureen, Mr. Gervais is survived by three sons, Stephen L. Gervais, Jr. and his wife, Alison (Fisher) of Lowell, MA, Michael D. Gervais and his wife, Samantha (Andersen) of Ayer, MA, and John F. Gervais and his wife, Jennifer (Brennan) of Groton, MA; six grandchildren, Catherine and James of Lowell, Sophia and Olivia of Ayer and Jacqueline and Jacob of Groton; two step-grandchildren, Taylor and Joseph Panarelli of Ayer; two sisters Janet (Gervais) Reilly of Peterborough, NH, and Judith (Gervais) Pfeiffer and her husband, Melvin of Amherst, NH; a brother, Robert V. Gervais and his wife, Ann (Reilly) of Lowell; sisters-in-law, Norma (Kenyon) Gervais of Chelmsford, and Eleanor (Reardon) Sullivan, of Lowell; a brother-in-law, James F. Reardon of Dracut, MA; a cousin, Paul Gervais and his partner, Gil Cohen of Lucca, Italy; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

He was also brother of the late John J. Gervais, Jr., Phillip Gervais and David Gervais, and brother-in-law of the late David A. Reilly and the late Miriam (O'Brien) Gervais.

GERVAIS -- In Lowell, January 15, 2015, at home, Stephen L. Gervais, Sr., 77, beloved husband of Maureen R. (Reardon) Gervais. Friends may call at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME, 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 2 to 7 P.M. Monday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass on Tuesday morning at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH (lower church) in Lowell at 11 o'clock. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make memorial contributions in Steve's honor to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund, 3 Fayette St., Lowell, MA 01852 or the D'Youville Foundation, 981 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854 or Circle Home Health & Hospice, 336 Central St., Lowell, MA 01852. Arrangements by Funeral Directors, James F. O'Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.