Gordon Fow
April 7, 1926 - May 28, 2011
Gordon J. Fow, age 85 of Fairfield, the beloved husband of Mary Seuch Fow passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Born in Waterbury to the late Joseph and Kathleen Fow, he was a lifelong area resident.
He was a U.S. Marine Corp. veteran having served in WWII. Gordon had a successful career in electronics and was a Sales Rep. for many years with Panasonic and Motorola. He eventually started his own business, Alpha Audio-Electronics Distributor, Inc. in Westport. The most important aspect of Gordon’s life was his family. Since childhood, he enjoyed going on family trips to Cape Cod, especially North Truro and Provincetown.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children, Peggy Rivard and her husband, Gary of Bristol, John D’Abundo and his wife, Wendy of Milford, Andrew D’Abundo of Fairfield, Teresa Jansen and her husband, Stephen of Monroe and Annamarie Koch and her husband, Karl of Ansonia. He will also be missed by six grandchildren, Tony, Lori, Stephen, Jenna, Kristen and Hunter; and great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Rachel, Nico and Adrianna. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Fow.
Friends are invited to attend the funeral on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. directly at Assumption Church in Westport for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be private. Friends may greet the family on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Rd. in Fairfield Center.
By request I wanted to share what I said at the funeral eulogy for my father Gordon Fow. My Dad was born and raised in Waterbury, CT. His family owned a 3 family house on Pine Street where he grew up with his Mom, Dad, brother Kenny and his Aunt Nancy. He always loved school, reading and swimming. His major in college was business administration. He was honored with Saluatorian when he graduated from Post College. He was very proud to serve for his country in World War II. He loved telling all his stories about the war. He worked for Hatry Electronics, Panasonic, Motorola. He also owned his own business. He had a gist to sell things to others. He always loved Cape Cod since he was a little boy and continued to visit there every year. He enjoyed family gatherings, good food and especially my homemade cookies. He just loved life so much! But his family was the most important part of his life. He adored and loved his wiffe, she was his partner, his love, his best friend and Mary he always told me you were his better half, his soul mate. He was proud of his children John, Andy, Teresa, Ann Marie and myself. He was always very generous and supportive. One time I told my Dad I wanted to set up a candy store in front of my house. He took me to whole sale store and he bought me candy to sell. I then set up my store. Soon after I asked my Dad to take me to the store again. He said what happened to all the candy? I said I sold it all. I did so well the owner of the local candy store came over to speak to my Dad. The candy store owner told my Dad I was putting him out of business. My Dad laughed. My Dad then said to me “I was a chip off the old block!” I asked, “what does that mean?” He said, It means your just like Daddy.” He was so proud when he was going to be a grandfather. He was blessed six times. Tony, Lori, Stephen, Jenna, Kristen and Hunter. He was also blessed with 5 great grandchildren. Nicholas, Elizabeth, Nico, Rachel and Adrianna. He loved his nieces Irene, Belly Anne, Billy and Kenny. As his family grew bigger he loved his son in laws Gary, Karl and Steve. His granddaughter in law Samantha, his grandson in law Nick and his soon to be grandson in law John. He had a good life, a good family, the bigger it grew the happier he was was. Dad you will be missed. I know your in a better place and I know your Mom came to take you there. I have to thank you Daddy for your support, guidance and for always letting me know how much you always loved me. Thank you for sharing your heart and your life with me. You will always be loved, you will never be forgotten because your spirit will live in all our hearts forever. I love you Daddy. I will always be your little girl and you’ll always be my Daddy.
The most important thing to my grandfather was us, his family. I want to share with you a typical conversation I would have with him while we sat on the couch together. He’d always start off by asking me how school was, then how work was. After I’d tell him, he’ then go into saying how Stephen was working and making money, and how both of us were so smart. Then he’d say “all my grandchildren are smart, you, Stephen, Lori, Tony, Kristen, and Hunter.” Anytime I talked to him he always mentioned to me how smart his grandchildren were. And you always knew he wanted you to tell him what was going on in your life, so he could brag about you later. I’ll always remember him handing my sister and I a dollar or two before we would leave his house. Even last year I was outside saying goodbye to him and my Nana and he pulls out his wallet and goes “here you go.” Then I would say “thank you Grandpa” and smile really big and it made it him so happy. I know it’s going to be difficult now. Like knowing that one last pastry he’d secretly take after Nana puts desert away will always be there. And when you pull into the driveway, he won’t be the one opening the door waiting for you to walk up the steps to greet you with a smile and a kiss. But it comforts me to know that a man like my grandfather, a wonderful, loving man, will be there when it’s my turn to pass, opening the door, waiting for me, with a smile and a kiss. I love you Grandpa.
He had a great way to enter the room. He spoke soft but gave meaningful words. He had a sense of humor but you had to earn his laugh. He wanted the floor to talk and you listened to his many words. He was my grandfather and I loved to see him when he entered the room. I will love to see him again.
Truly a great person that I enjoyed doing business with years ago. He will be missed.