Richard "Dick" Gagner

In Spring Hill, Florida, October 4, 2025 Richard "Dick" Gagner formally of Sagamore Beach, loving husband of Jo Ann Gagner of Spring Hill, Florida died at the age of 79. He was the son of the late Raymond and Beatrice Gagner.
In retirement spent winters in Florida and summers in Bourne with family and friends while living and working at BayView campground.
He attended Wareham schools and graduated from Falmouth high school his last year. Dick served four years in the Navy during the Viet Nam War as an electronics technician Petty Officer. He built his home in Sagamore Beach and served as superintendent of the North Sagamore Water District. He was a builder and developer and became an original crew member of Massachusetts National Cemetery, completing unfinished construction projects. He then became a project manager for Facilities Engineering at the Coast Guard Air station providing training in the trades for enlisted personnel during building and remodeling projects. He then taught at Upper Cape Vocational school and finally settled on restoring and renovating historic homes.
Committed to giving away as much time as he sold, he served the town of Bourne in the Lions club, Four ponds committee and King's Highway Historic District committee. He served on the boards and coached Bourne little league, Bourne youth hockey and was a founding member of the high school hockey Board and Blade club earning him the Morrill Memorial Award.
When state and federal public health officials opened investigations into elevations of cancer on Cape Cod, he used his background to discover and confirm the connection between cancer clusters and the historic use of asbestos/cement water mains. He consulted with Boston University, several state public health departments, and CDC on studies nationwide confirming his findings and consulting with the EPA to establish new drinking water standards.
In his retirement, he completed his bucket list by becoming a published artist and writing his book.
Dick was the father of Jon Gagner and his wife Holly of Sagamore Beach and Richard Gagner Jr. and his fiancé Amy Bois of Greenland, NH. Pe'pe of Jon Jr., Nicholas, Matthew, Owen, Kelsie, Benjamin and Courtney. Brother of Donald Gagner and his wife Midori of Osaka, Japan, Terry Gagner and his wife Janet of Kittery Point, Maine and the late Raymond Gagner.A special sister-in-law Janine Cliff of Spring Hill FL and special niece Andrea her husband Stephen and their two children Mason and Marisa. Uncle of many nieces and nephews. A burial will be held this spring at the National Cemetery in Bourne, MA at a date and time to be determined by his family.
In lieu of flowers or donations, Dick asks that you give away a little of your time to someone who needs it.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Richard "Dick" Gagner, please visit our floral store.