Attorney Gerald Prunier, 81, a longtime resident of Hollis and Nashua, NH died peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, October 18, 2022, with his family by his side. He passed after suffering from a catastrophic stroke experienced while playing golf at Overlook Country Club where he owned the first tee time every Saturday morning for over 30 years.
Gerry was born on October 20, 1940, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of the late George and Theresa Prunier. He is survived by Estelle (Dumaine) Prunier, of Nashua, with whom in 1963 after her cousin, Philip Caron arranged a blind date for them. Their love story began then and lasted 59 years of marriage. Throughout his young life he worked hard for his uncle’s masonry company and helped raise his six brothers and sisters: Denise LeBlanc, George Prunier, Annette Leger, Bernie Caron, Jeannine Voveris, and Robert Prunier. Gerry was the eldest, he loved them deeply, and they each made him feel equally appreciated with plenty of blueberry muffins, flowers, and impromptu visits.
After graduating from Assumption Prep School in 1959, Gerry attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, graduating in 1963. After one year of business school at Columbia University Graduate School of Business, he moved on to Boston College Law School earning his Juris Doctorate in 1967. Gerry began his law career when he was hired by Thomas Leonard in the same year. Many respected attorneys influenced him over his 55-year career, too many to name, but each is remembered in his family’s hearts. He eventually opened his own law practice in Nashua, NH, offering expertise in land use and real estate development. He is remembered for being a major contributor to the growth and economic stability of the Nashua region.
Gerry remained loyal to his community until the end. He was elected to the Nashua Board of Education in 1967 and Chairman of the Board in 1971. He was the past President of the Nashua YMCA and past President of the Nashua Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Gerry served as the Director of the Nashua Children’s Home, was a former Trustee of Nashua Memorial Hospital (Southern NH Regional Medical Center), former Director of the Nashua Trust Company, a member of the Bishop Guertin School Board and past President of the Nashua Bar Association. He remained a faithful member of the Rotary Club of Nashua and Nashua Business & Industrial Development Authority (BIDA). He worked his magic in countless deals, throughout numerous courtrooms, and danced his way through myriad Planning and Zoning Board meetings throughout New Hampshire. Gerry was also a longtime member of the Nashua Country Club, where he loved to play golf and dine with Estelle.
Gerry was an avid sports enthusiast. He played basketball and football in his youth, and these passions led him to several volunteer coaching positions. He started with coaching his son Rob’s Nashua biddy basketball team and CYO basketball team at the Parrish of the Resurrection. His passion for coaching influenced many youth in Nashua. Later he and Rob coached several AAU basketball teams together. When he retired as a coach, he stood tall and loud on the sidelines, even when it got him thrown out of a gym or two. Regardless of this, he always showed up for the next game (thank goodness the refs let him back in). His love for Bishop Guertin basketball (boys and girls) spanned over 40-years, and he was a fixture in the BG gym.
Gerry and Estelle raised a family of three children: Rob, Sarah, and Amy. His children grew up watching their parent’s love affair continuously grow and strengthen through good and tough times. Ask any of his children today and they will emphatically say that their parents were their absolute role models. Gerry gave much of himself to his community, but he always put his children first…and they knew it. He showed up to everything: games, art shows, births, Sunday morning coffee…everything. He taught his children what a kind and loving man is, how to look for one and how to be one. His grandchildren were often reminded that he was the exemplar and that “we all need to be more like Peperé.”
Bethany (Rob’s wife), Sean (Sarah’s husband), and Kelsey (Amy’s husband) are the extra children Gerry and Estelle always wanted. He treated them like a daughter and sons, and they consider Gerry their second dad. Gerry had nine grandchildren: Caley, Nick, Sam, and Tess (Rob and Bethany); Maisy (Sarah and Sean); Emerson, Jeremy, Jackson, and Tatum (Amy and Kelsey). They were the light of his life; they gave him so much joy and he made sure that each of them knew how special they were to him. Whether he was calling them simply to check in, showing up at their sports games, or dressing up as a zookeeper for Halloween – they felt his love.
Now comes the love story. Gerry always told his children about the blind date that changed his life. He saw Estelle walk down the stairs of her Fifield Street house and he immediately knew that he was going to marry her. Every time Estelle looks at their wedding picture she says there was no boy in Nashua that could compare to Gerry. They enjoyed 59-years of marriage. When they would walk by one another in the house, they would kiss. When they would drive together, they would hold hands. Even when they bickered, they never remembered it for long. They were best friends, lovers forever, and what their children aspire to be like.
Gerry Prunier is an icon. His family will love him forever and continue to pass on his light.
Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Monday, October 24th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday, October 25th from 4 to 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Parish of the Resurrection, 449 Broad Street, Nashua, Wednesday, October 26th at Noon. Kindly meet at the church. The family has requested that donations may be sent in Gerry’s memory to: https://familypromisenh.org/ To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com.
