Gary Drew Stimpson ... co-owned Fanfares Restaurant

Gary Drew Stimpson was born to Norma Doris (Daniels)Stimpson and Merrill"Dean"Stimpson on March 15,1955 in Brockton, Mass. He attended grade school and Junior High in Abington Mass. He graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro, NH. He went on from there to I.T.T. Technical Institute in Boston, Mass where he learned his lifelong trade as an H.V.A.C. technician.

Gary was an "evolved soul "when he very bravely stepped off the medical merry go round that kidney failure put him on, refused all manner of life support in order to "let nature takes it course "and passed from this life to the one beyond on November 9, 2018, at the age of 63. He left this earth with his dearest friend Linda by his side and holding him close to her heart. Gary's last home was with Linda and her husband Claude,whose home was made so much livelier and loving with his sense of humor, his music, and love of animals, wildlife, not to mention his culinary talents, which he poured his heart and soul into all of these.

Many people will remember Gary from Fanfares Restaurant on Rt 11 in Rochester, NH, where he and his brother Alan (also Culinarily gifted) shared the heartfelt desire to offer the public traditionally loved homecooked meals and freshly baked breads and rolls every day. While their customers knew their menu was not fast food, the meal was always worth the wait. Any fan of Fanfares would agree, the TLC put into each recipe was testament to just how well the brothers worked together.

To those who knew him best, Gary was considered to be a mechanical and electronics genius who built his first few computers before he even knew how to use them. His last place of employment utilizing his chosen trade as an HVAC technician was with Strogens Mechanical in Rochester, NH. More than a few of Strogens customers were amazed by his ability to troubleshoot and fix a problem with their equipment simply by "the laying of hands "to get a feeling for "what ails it "and by listening to what the machine "tells "him before arriving at a diagnosis. He probably never met a machine he couldn't repair. Regardless of how old or outdated the machine was, he would figure a way of keeping it running.

Gary also loved to help his racing buddies preparing their cars mechanically before a race; whether it was the ice races, or the drag races, he would always offer his expertise as a mechanic, and his time as a friend.

Gary's giant presence in this life was in both his personality as well physical stature. Standing tall at 6'5" and weighing in at 340 lbs. (in his younger days) he would fill a doorway as he entered a room. He was known as the "incredible bulk "and the "spare crane "when he worked for C.E. Avery in Newington, NH back in the early 80s, and though he could easily devour the 4' long sub sandwiches he brought for his supper, he would usually share it with a coworker, or two. He was known to pick up the back bumper of a friend's car and roll it forward because it was in his way, and that was with the car parked on beach sand. Yet, Gary was a gentle giant; as even the tiniest chipmunk would trustingly sit on in the palm of his huge outstretched hand, as it happily munched the nuts, he offered it.

Gary left this earthly realm being very much loved and immeasurably missed by his brother Alan and his wife Francis "Frannie" Stimpson; whose love, care and help saw Gary through his darkest hours throughout the duration of his illness. He also leaves behind his loving friends Linda Labrecque and Claude Poulin, whose lives have been made immensely better for knowing him and immensely saddened by the loss of his presence in their lives. Gary is very much loved and sadly missed by his" favorite girl "Jean Breton, who brought great happiness, inspiration, love, hope and spiritual enlightenment to the final 5 years of his life. His kitties, Janie and Jeanie, are at a loss without him sitting in his favorite chair, where he held and loved then in his lap. God Bless Gary forevermore and may he be in Jesus's loving embrace. Gary was predeceased by his loving mother, Norma, and his father, Dean Stimpson. Donations in Gary's memory can be made to any Goodwill cause of ones' choice.