Stuart Ewald "Stu" Gadbois

1934 - 2018

Salem - Stuart Ewald Gadbois, 83, unexpectedly passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Judy, his loving wife of 61 years, was with him.

Stu lived a good life full of family, farm, community and faith. His three children, John, Wendy and Kristin, were nearby and very involved with their parents. They have six grandchildren who were also close and, remarkably, 12 great-grandchildren who knew and loved him. Shortly before passing away, Stu pointed to a picture of all of his great-grandchildren and said that they were the real wealth of his life.

Stu was born in New London, then moved to Salem at age 8 when his father established the Maegog Farm at the crossroads of Route 82 and Route 354. He graduated from New London High School in 1952, from UConn with a degree in engineering in 1956, and was awarded a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1965. Judy and Stu married in 1956.

He worked in the aerospace industry with United Aircraft Research Labs until 1973, when he and Judy made the decision for Stu to leave engineering and take over Maegog Farm. The farm, with he and John as partners, was an active dairy until 2003. They continue to produce hay and rent farmland to others for crops.

Stuart was on the board of education for 18 years, serving as chairman for many of those years, and was currently a town selectman. He was also involved in academic prizes in the Salem school, and scholarship awards. He served as a trustee and assistant treasurer of the Congregational Church of Salem. He was active with the dairy cooperative, AgriMark, where he was on the board for 10 years, serving as secretary and then vice chairman. For nearly 30 years, he and Judy held a Live Nativity celebration every December in their barn. Service to others was at the core of his life.

Stu leaves his children, John and Ruth Gadbois, and Kristin Gadbois, of Salem, and Wendy Jensen and Stephen Moore, of Monterey, Mass.; his grandchildren, John and Daria Gadbois, Kelly and John Stephan, Rachel and Casey Crafton, and Michael Gadbois and his fiancée Emily Smith, all of Salem, Erik and Aom Jensen of Southampton, Mass., and Hanna Jensen of Great Barrington, Mass.; and his 12 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Road, Colchester. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 9, at the Congregational Church of Salem, 244 Hartford Road, Salem. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Congregational Church of Salem in memory of Stuart Gadbois, or the Gadbois Math and Spelling Awards for the Salem Elementary School, c/o John Gadbois, 550 Norwich Road, Salem, CT 06420.