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Joseph Martin Gingras

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Joseph Gingras Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 1, 2024.

Joseph M. Gingras

Joseph Gingras, 47, of Dublin, Georgia passed away unexpectedly on January 20, 2024. Born in Springfield, MA on February 15, 1976, he grew up in the Sixteen Acres neighborhood where he developed many lifelong friendships. Joe graduated from Cathedral High School in 1994 and joined the Army Reserves. He had a passion for protecting and serving his community and helping others. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer with the Dublin Police Department in Georgia, a role he served with pride. Known by many as Big Joe, he had a generous soul and a loving heart. Joe leaves behind his loving parents, Gary and Susan (Barrows) Gingras of Springfield, his son Gavin Gingras, his brothers and sisters Gary Gingras (Candis), Sharon Gingras, Angela Bosak (Kevin), Katie Salavantis (William), Alan Gingras, and Nick Gingras, his grandmother Lorraine Gingras, and many loving cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was especially close to his uncle John. He was predeceased by his grandfathers Richard Barrows, Edward LaFleur, and Eugene Gingras, and his grandmothers Wilma LaFleur and Claire Barrows. Services will be held this spring with his family and friends, on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Teen Challenge Men's Center in Dublin. Checks, with "Dublin- Joseph Gingras" in the memo line, may be mailed to the address below or you can donate online using the following link:(https://give.teenchallenge.cc/joseph-gingras-memorial/)

Teen Challenge

3729 US HWY 441 South

Dublin, GA 31021

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Recent Activity

February 18, 2024

Melanie Drewnowski posted to the memorial.

February 16, 2024

Heather Hall posted to the memorial.

February 16, 2024

Heather Hall posted to the memorial.

13 Entries

Melanie Drewnowski

February 18, 2024

I believe people enter our lives for a reason and 20 years ago I took a job at a school in Springfield and met Joe. We became fast friends and made great memories, I´ll always remember is positive attitude, his charisma, thoughtfulness and just overall how good he was to me and my family. RIP Joe

Heather Hall

February 16, 2024

Heather Hall

February 16, 2024

Heather Hall

February 16, 2024

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Heather Hall

February 16, 2024

Oh boy! Where do I even begin...

Joe, I miss you, I love you and I thank you. I thank you for showing me that people can change. You showed me that no matter what you´ve been through, you can always better yourself. You showed humility, vulnerability, and acceptance. You helped so many along your journey and you reflected God´s love.

The year was 2004, Joey was looking for a place to live, and I happened to have an apartment in West Springfield. It was a very small apartment, but it was never too small for family. He moved in. While he was there, we would go on walks and runs. One of our runs brought us to the Big E right before the fair opened. There weren´t many people or venders there yet. We ran and walked around the grounds and explored. We ran through one building that had a chain across the door but didn´t think anything of it. As we ran through, we heard someone shoveling the stalls so we quickly ran through in fear of getting yelled at. As we crossed the other chain on the opposite side of the building, we saw a man shoveling a stall. His face when he saw us was as white as a sheet of paper. We just figured we had scared him as it was dark and about 9:30pm. He asked if we had just been in the building and we reluctantly said yes, still in fear of getting in trouble, when he blurted out "Lion". He repeated himself, "Lion!". We looked at each other and both froze as we started putting two and two together. He told us there were lions in the stalls that we just walked by. It was at that moment we both realized that the sounds we had heard hadn´t been someone shoveling in the building, but it had been the lion´s chains dragging on the ground as we blindly walked through the lion´s den!! We walked home both in disbelief that we had walked through lions and survived!!

We became close and were both looking for a change of scenery. We discussed moving to Florida and getting a fresh start. He was looking for jobs on a police force and I was looking to transfer. We even had a trip down there planned to look at places to live. All of that changed the moment he found out he was going to be a father. When he told me, his focus immediately changed to staying here and being a dad. We found a 3-bedroom house for rent so after the baby was born he would have his own room. It was in that house where Joe and I really became close. We were inseparable. Unfortunately, it was also around this time Joe started to lose himself. We grew apart over the next few years as he struggled with his addictions. I never stopped loving him, but a bit of tough love was needed.

He had such a strong desire to get better so he could be the father he always wanted to be. He tried and tried and never stopped longing to correct what he had broken. He knew that he had to make a drastic change if he was ever going to fix things, so he made the gut-wrenching decision to move to Georgia and become the man a son could be proud of.

When he moved to Georgia, I knew he was never going to move back. I knew he needed to move away. I knew he needed a change. As hard as it was, I knew he needed it. I was proud of him! I AM proud of him. He turned his life around and was an inspiration. One of my final, most impactful, memories of him was from about 4 years ago. I was going through some hard times and was questioning a lot of things. We spoke on the phone and he asked if he could pray with me. I mean that hit me like a ton of bricks because here he was, my cousin who struggled for so long, but here he was stronger than ever being my rock. He lifted me up and encouraged me. I´ll never forget the powerfulness of that phone call and how much it meant to me.

The number of stories - from crying on a bridge at the Fourth of July fireworks about a breakup and having him act like I was just very patriotic so people wouldn´t look at me like I was crazy - to why I can´t eat green olives anymore (Tommy P. will get that, lol) - and pulling a car hood with seats riveted to it through the snow - and so many more memories. He always had a way to make anyone around him laugh.

I love you Joe and will always miss you! Thank you for being you!! Thank you for sharing all those moments with me!!

Shelly MacKeller

February 6, 2024

I am heartbroken with Joe´s passing. We had several days together as well as a couple of months last fall. I will never forget in the brief time we had together the times when you would put on Frank Sinatra and dance with me in the kitchen. And I will always treasure the moments when we prayed together. But as hard as it was to have you die next to me at least you didn´t die alone. RIP you silly man.

Angela Bosak

February 4, 2024

Dear Joe,

To be strong is to have a soul that never loses hope, courage or self worth. You never know how much time you have left on this beautiful earth.

Have a heart that forgives, a touch that is gentile. Time only knows when you will lose someone so sentimental.

Don´t lose touch with life, as we all make mistakes. Sometimes you have to be the stronger one for when someone else breaks.

Instead of a punch, lend out a hand. You sometimes don´t know what one is going through or where their thoughts may stand.

Look past the darkness, remember the moments that were bright. Growing up with you Joe, you were my brother, I will never lose sight.

So many fond memories outweigh the rest. Regardless of our struggles with each other,
you turned it around and did your best.

I´m proud of who you became, you finally followed your dream. Your death is surreal, my love for you, is not what I made it seem.

I wanted often to reach out to tell you I was proud, I listen to my mind instead of my heart, my mind told me I wasn´t allowed.

I reminisce at pictures of us, as a baby you holding me. The proud smile on your face, as my big brother, you can definitely see.

Some may think it´s too late to share, to tell you how much I love you and how much I still care.

I will never forget that twinkle in your eye, and your charismatic smile. At night, I look out, and all I can see is your twinkle in the sky.

Keep shining bright Joe, like mom always sings, you will forever be her sunshine, but you will always be my wings.

Love you always,
Angela

Angela Bosak

February 3, 2024

Rodolfo

February 1, 2024

Joe was in my life briefly at teen challenge. He was a genuine soul. Genuine man. My heart breaks for his family, his son and loved ones. Joe I am a better man for having met you and spent time with you on our journey... I will carry on your love the best I can...

Katie Salavantis

February 1, 2024

Joe, thanks for being such an awesome brother. I have so many memories that bring a smile to my face and make me miss you at the same time. When I was little I thought you were the coolest big brother. No one else I knew had a brother that used to take their younger sister to the dream machine arcade, shopping at the mall, The Big E, or out to Friendlys for breakfast or ice cream. I remember one time when we were at the beach, I said I thought it would be fun to go parasailing. You said let´s go, and we went and parasailed together. Then one winter I said it would be fun to go snowboarding. You said let´s go, and we took a trip up to the Berkshires for the weekend. You skied and I went snowboarding. We had so much fun and I´m glad we got to share all of these memories together, and so many more! Thanks for always encouraging me to do my best, for believing in me and for you willingness to go on adventures that I may have never done if it weren´t for you saying we should go. I miss you, but I know you will always be with me. I love you.

Donna Simino

February 1, 2024

I hadn't seen Joey in years. I have photos of him back when he had a head full of beautiful blonde hair and a beautiful smile even with braces. He was such a pleasant kid. I was friends with his parents. I'm still numb at finding out he passed. Sending comforting hugs to Susan, Gary and family.

Abby

February 1, 2024

I don´t remember my uncle very well but I wish I had more time with him,

Stacie Johnson

February 1, 2024

One thing I will say is he will be missed so very much. He was a great friend always there if he was needed in anyway! He had an amazing ability to love people that others found difficult to love. He was always there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to and tell me what I needed to hear Not what I wanted to hear. I will always remember holidays he shared with our family, the 5k race he and my daughter ran together and how much fun she had! All the crazy silly moments at the Thrift Store and his Awesome Yankee voice.... I'm a Yankee too! I appreciated the times he did drive-bys of my house when I was on vacation and how his character made me want to strive to be a better person.

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