Gary L. Bordeleau
September 5, 2017Share using:
Gary Lee Bordeleau passed from this life on Thursday August 31, 2017. He was born on September 17, 1957 to Rene and Josephine (Conti) Bordeleau.
Gary lived as a unique character. He liked to do things his way regardless of convention, opinion, or sometimes even, laws and regulations. He wasn’t one to sugar coat his words, but also readily admitted his mistakes and kept an open mind.
Gary enlisted in the Army out of high school, following in his favorite uncle's footsteps by joining the 101st Airborne Division.
Once out of the Army, Gary went to welding school in order to work with his hands, as was his passion. He then soon married his first wife, Lianne (Pothier), and had a son Darryl, while also raising Darryl’s sister Keira as his own daughter. He adored both children, and they spent many summer days at the shore or at Mt. Tom where they rode the water slides during the summer and learned to ski during the winter.
For many years, Gary combined his welding and construction skills working at United Steel in East Hartford as an ironworker and foreman, where he worked comfortably sometimes ten stories high, year-round and in the elements.
It was during this time he met his second wife, Diane (La Belle-Goldstein) along with his step children Olivia and Richard Goldstein. Together they joined forces for a second shot at happily ever after. Over the years they enjoyed attending UConn basketball games, weekly trips to the movies and various projects around the house.
He was proud of all his children, especially upon each of their graduations. Some of his proudest moments were when he traveled to China to attend his son’s wedding and when his step-daughter Keira made him a grandfather.
Gary enjoyed traveling. In addition to China, he and Diane traveled to Minnesota, Niagara Falls, Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maine, and most recently Costa Rica.
Gary leaves behind many who will miss him dearly; his wife Diane and step-children Olivia and Richard Goldstein, his son Darryl Bordeleau and Darryl’s wife Yin; step daughter Keira (Piccione) Norman, her husband Dan Norman and their children Payton, Kaitlyn and Ben as well as his friend and cousin Leo Bordeleau. His passing leaves a hole in all their lives.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Gary’s name to the charities Darkness to Light, The American Heart Association, or The Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic Connecticut.