Kenneth Louis Arthur Gavin

Kenneth LA Gavin Sr. (Ken) of Nahant, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully with his family
by his side after a brief illness on 3/20/2023, age of 103 at the Kaplan House in Danvers. He
was the loving husband of the late Barbara Gavin with whom he attended Kindergarten through
the 10th grade together and shared (55) years of marriage. Ken and Barbara were the adoring
parents to their six children, Kendra Nagy and her husband Roy of Sailsbury, Paula Koehler and
her husband Peter of Nahant, Kenneth Gavin Jr.of Gloucester (who predeceased him in 2022)
and his partner Janet Monahan of Lynnfield, Paul Gavin of Largo, Fl. Patricia Cronin and her
husband Bob of Nahant and Jackie Gavin and his wife Mary Jo of Nahant Ken, was a
cherished Papa to (11) grandchildren, (11) Great Grandchildren and one Great Granddaughter
who will arrive in July. Ken was the devoted partner to the late Marie Hosker of Mitchels's
corner, Nahant for more than 25 years until her recent passing. Ken and Marie traveled the
world, dined out, attended concerts, cherished each other and kept each other young at heart
for many years. Ken was born and raised in Attleboro, Massachusetts to John and Melina
(Arsenault) Gavin. Ken Graduated from Attleboro High School in 1938. Ken was predeceased
by his siblings, Arnold, Mary Tracy, Joseph and Alice Cassidy. Ken spent many summer
vacations in the Harwich area of Cape Cod and eventually resided in Harwich with his young
family before moving to Nahant in 1956. Ken volunteered into the US Army Air Corps in 1942
and piloted C47 transport planes with the 437th Troop Carrier Group flying many missions but
including two missions towing gliders
on June 6, 1944 (D-Day) as well as two operations in Belgium. The first one was known as
Operation Market Garden (September, 1944) and Bastogne, known as Battle of the Bulge in
December 1944. Ken served in the Air Force Reserves and was called back to active duty
during the Korean Conflict. He retired from Flying in 1959 as a Lt COL. Ken Worked as an Air
Traffic Controller for the Federal Aviation Administration at Logan Airport and then in Nashua,
New Hampshire retiring in 1975 as a Shift Commander. Ken and Barbara were avid skiers in
the winter in New Hampshire and Vermont and boaters in the summer where he and Barbara
would travel the Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, the Cape and the Islands as well as the North
and south coasts of Massachusetts. Ken was a member of the Point of Pines Yacht Club in
Revere where he left many friends. Ken was a gifted musician playing Saxophone and Clarinet
professionally as a young man and breaking them out at local parties. He was also a talented
artist painting in oils and acrylic of landscapes and seascapes where he often donated to local
charities. Ken was a skilled carpenter prior to working for the FAA and helped his family build
and renovate many projects on their homes. Ken loved every game imaginable and often
coordinated card games, board games, yard games including one his favorite, croquet
tournaments for the neighborhood kids with no age limitations. You just had to come up with the
"Anti". Ken was a member of the Mortimer G. Robbins Post 215 American Legion. He was
always a gentleman and respected friend to many for his warmth, humor, bravery, compassion,
generosity and extremely committed to his faith. Ken will be missed by his entire family, many
nieces and nephews, friends and all who had the pleasure of knowing him. The Gavin family
would like to thank the Jesmond Nursing Home and The Kaplan Family Hospice House (Care
dimensions) for their excellent and thoughtful care of Ken during his stays.
His Funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at 10:00AM in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Nahant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 from 4:00PM-7:00PM in the Solimine Funeral Home 67 Ocean St. (RTE1A), Lynn. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Legion, Mortimer G. Robbins Post 215, Nahant. Directions and guestbook at www.solimine.com