Thomas (Tommy) Joseph Gagnon, Jr., age 43, born in Salem, raised in Peabody, lived in Marblehead and Salem as an adult, lost his brief yet brave battle with cancer on June 2, 2019, while at Kaplan Hospice. His life was filled with his love for creating art, particularly his woodturning from local recycled tree wood, and his passion for sharing his skills with others.
His Boston Woodturning studio and gallery at Artist’s Row, Salem, Mass. was where he created vessels, vases, tables, decorations, awards, etc. while providing lessons and demonstrations about woodturning. His creations were appreciated and purchased by locals, visitors to Artists Row, and shipped globally with a major following in Brazil. He had many shows of his art through the years as he worked in oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolor, clay, and from a young age his graffiti cartoons. He attended a variety of schools as a child and adolescent in Peabody and the North Shore, including art classes at Montserrat in Beverly. Tom received his Associate’s degree from Katherine Gibbs in webpage and software design. From his love as a youth of skateboarding his grandmother, Pauline Brennan, advocated for the creation of the Peabody skateboard park.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years Allyse Frieswyck, and Allyse’s parents, Bill and Midge Frieswyck, and family; his mothers’ Marcia Brennan and Mary Margaret Moore, his two children, Katherina Alves and Isaiah Gagnon, his three grandchildren, Xander, Layla, and Levi, his godmother and Aunt Janet Brennan, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins and extended family. He also is survived by his father, Thomas Gagnon and his paternal uncles and aunt.
A celebration of Tommy’s life will take place on Friday, June 28, 2019, at 11 a.m., ending by 1 p.m., Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody, Mass. followed by interment at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody, Mass.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to continue the opportunity for artists like Tommy to create at Artists Row, make check out to: City of Salem, and in memo of check write ‘In memory of Tommy Gagnon, for Artists Row’ and send check to: City of Salem, Planning Office, 98 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970.
NOTE: Boston Woodturning will be selling all of Tommy’s tools and equipment. For more information, call 978.825.1244 and leave a message.
