George Andrew Gagnan

George A. Gagnan, 87, passed away peacefully on May 5th after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born on April 24, 1937, in Salem, he was the only son of George and Anne Gagnan. He attended St. John's School in Peabody, followed by his beloved St. John's Prep, where he fostered lifelong friendships with his football teammates.
George was a fierce competitor, a Catholic Conference All-Star, and was proud to be named captain his senior year. He played in the Agganis Game, which led to a full scholarship to the University of Miami. He also played baseball and was in the Men's Choir (if you can imagine that!).
Anyone who knew George can attest to his gift of gab and his love of talking to people and listening to their backgrounds. He utilized these skills to become a top agent for the Boston Mutual Insurance Company and enjoyed continuous success, which led to his love of travel.
His deep roots in the Peabody community led to real estate development and his service on the Peabody Planning Board during expansionary times, including the Centennial Park development. He became a real estate developer and built apartments, commercial buildings, and custom homes throughout the North Shore for several decades. He fell in love with English pubs and ended up creating and operating the iconic Heifer Pub, which was one of the busiest establishments in the city. He was also immensely proud to be named President of the Greek Men's Club of St. Vasilios in Peabody.
Football remained a passion and part of George's identity throughout his life. He coached football at Salem High School and Malden Catholic and remained a steadfast confidante and mentor to numerous athletes right up to his final days. He was immensely proud of his grandson, Logan Mahoney, who followed in his footsteps, playing and now coaching football at St. John's Prep. Some of his happiest memories later in life were going to SJP football games to watch Logan coach with four generations of family in the stands. Family, as George would say, is "what it's all about."
George is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Agnes "Kiki" Cokorogianis Gagnan of Danvers, and his two daughters: Lauren Gagnan of West Newbury and Stephanie Mahoney (with her husband, Mark) of Marblehead. He leaves behind cherished grandchildren: Logan Mahoney of Charlestown and Spencer Mahoney and his wife, Jessica, of Salem, along with his much-loved great-grandsons, Camden and Dylan Mahoney. George was predeceased by his son, Scott Gagnan.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday May 11, 2024 beginning at 10:00 AM at the St. John's Preparatory School Chapel, located at 72 Spring St., Danvers, MA 01923. Visiting hours will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM prior to the mass inside of the chapel. For more information or online guestbook, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com or call 978-744-0497.
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