Garrett Mather Gagné

1992 - 2015

1992 - 2015 Longmeadow - Garrett Mather Gagné, 22, of Longmeadow, passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2015. Born in Springfield to his loving parents, Christopher R. and Susan Mather Gagné of Longmeadow, he graduated with academic and athletic honors from Longmeadow High School (LHS) in 2011. Garrett was entering his final semester as a government major at St. Lawrence University where he continued his excellence on the field and in the classroom. Garrett's life ended far too soon and the pain of his loss is immeasurable. All who knew and loved him will celebrate his life for the way he lived it, for all he achieved in sport, classroom, and friendships, and for whom he was as a son, brother, grandson, nephew, and cousin. Much will be remembered of Garrett's natural athletic ability, and rightly so. While a 3-year member of the LHS varsity lacrosse team, he served as Captain and was a 3-time winner of All-Scholastic and Offensive MVP honors. His passion for and excellence in lacrosse continued at St. Lawrence University where he was a 4-year member of their varsity team. Garrett was also a Federation Certified Lacrosse Referee. Garrett captained the LHS Ski Team where he was a 4-year varsity letter winner, a 4-time All-Scholastic, a 3-time WMass Champion, 2-time Individual State Champion, and a 2-time winner of the prestigious Individual Eastern High School Championships. Garrett was a member of the SLU Club Ski Team and the Berkshire East Ski Team in Charlemont, MA. But it wasn't just Garrett's athletic gifts that set him apart. It was his desire to succeed and his willingness to put in the hours of hard work that set him apart from his peers and quietly made him a leader. Recognized as such, Garrett's peers and coaches so often elected him Captain. Although so much of Garrett's athletic success was individual, his passion was for team sport and many strong and lasting friendships developed from his years on the many teams from his days in Longmeadow and Canton. Garrett was rich with friendships. He brought so much to his parents, his brothers, his extended family, and to so many friends. And that's how he'll be remembered. Possessed of good nature, spirit, mischievousness, humor, good family and a deep love for them, Garrett was poised to leave his mark on his large circle of family and friends. And left a mark he has. Besides his loving parents, Christopher R. and Susan Mather Gagné, he is survived by his three brothers, Matthew Clement Gagné, of Boston, MA, and Tyler Christopher Gagné and Kyle Richard Gagné, both of Longmeadow; his maternal grandmother, Sandra J. Mather of West Hartford, CT; his paternal grandparents, Dr. Clement R. Gagné and Mrs. Eileen A. Gagné, of Murrells Inlet, SC; his aunts and uncles, Lynn Mather Charette and her husband John A. of West Hartford, CT , Linwood "Woody" Strong Mather, III and his wife Susan Lewis Mather, of Canton, CT, Todd Strong Mather and his wife Leslie Zurinskas Mather, of Avon, CT, Lisa Jordan and her husband W. Carl Jordan, of Houston, TX, Kim Gagné and his wife Nussy, of London, UK, Craig Gagné and his wife Phyllis, of Athens, GA, Colin Gagne of McMinnville, Oregon, and Mark Gagné and his wife Nancy, of Williston, VT; his dear cousins, Ben, Tucker, Elizabeth, Hallie, Buck, Cooper, Quinton, Reid, Hillary, Kimberly, Chris, Nick, Yasmin, Samina, Clark, Andrew, Jessica and Amanda and his devoted friends, teammates and coaches throughout high school and college. He was predeceased by his grandfather, Linwood S. Mather, Jr. Family and friends are invited to meet for calling hours on Tuesday January 6th from 4 - 7 PM at the Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main St., East Longmeadow, MA. All may meet for a Celebration of Life service on Wednesday January 7th at 10 AM at the First Church of Christ, 763 Longmeadow St. in Longmeadow. Burial will be private for the family at a later date in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Garrett M. Gagné Memorial Fund to benefit the Longmeadow Boys Lacrosse Association and St. Lawrence University C/O Berkshire Bank, 72 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Please visit www.forastierefuneralhome.com for directions and online condolences.