Gerald P. Bourgeois, 88

MEREDITH — Gerald Paul Bourgeois, 88, fondly known as “Dr. B,” passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025, at Laconia Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Born April 26, 1937, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Eloyse Mary (Hoyle) Bourgeois and Normand H. Bourgeois. He grew up in Pawtucket and Providence, Rhode Island, attending St. Raymond’s School and St. Raphael Academy.

Dr. Bourgeois devoted 39 years to education across New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts as a teacher, principal, director, superintendent, and adjunct professor. He earned his bachelor’s from Rhode Island College and both master’s and doctoral degrees from Boston University. Until retiring in 1998, he worked with the NH Department of Education, including as chief of staff and acting deputy commissioner.

A leader in middle level education, he co-founded the New England League of Middle Schools in 1976 and served as president of the National Middle School Association in 1986-87. His many honors included two NMSA President’s Awards and the NELMS Distinguished Service Award. He also taught graduate-level courses at Notre Dame College and Plymouth State University.

A lifelong fire buff, Dr. Bourgeois was a volunteer firefighter, dispatcher, and fire commissioner. He published The Red Pages of Firefighting in the 1990s, and received the Leather Helmet Society’s Distinguished Service Award. In retirement, he authored in-depth histories of the Concord, Laconia and Plymouth fire departments, receiving the City of Concord’s Service Award in 2016.

As one of the first in the late 1960s, he served as a eucharistic minister in parishes across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Florida and New Hampshire. He also contributed to juvenile fire intervention programs in both Rhode Island and Florida. He and his wife Marguerite co-authored a family memoir in 2010 chronicling their life together.

Gerald loved to travel with Marguerite, particularly throughout Europe, Canada, and the U.S., attending events like the Edinburgh Tattoo. He was a passionate book collector, especially of Lincoln, Civil War history, firefighting, public education, and signed modern mysteries.

Known as “Pepe” to his family, Gerald will be remembered for his care for others and his gift for storytelling.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marguerite (Brazeil) Bourgeois; four sons, Brian of Meredith, Gerald (partner Erin Mackey) of Bedford, Michael (wife Julie Gnerre-Bourgeois) of Meredith, and Matthew (wife Kelly) of Wesley Chapel, North Carolina, and Narragansett, Rhode Island.

He also leaves behind four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Brittany Bourgeois-Munzing and husband Nate, along with their daughter Mackenzie and son Theodore of Hallowell, Maine; Caroline Bourgeois of Annapolis, Maryland, and Narragansett, Rhode Island; Kathryn Bourgeois of Wesley Chapel, North Carolina, and Narragansett, Rhode Island; and Hayden Bourgeois of Meredith.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 30, at St. Charles Borromeo, 300 Route 25. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery, with a celebration of life immediately following at Giuseppe’s Restaurant, 312 Daniel Webster Hwy, Mills Falls Marketplace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School (P.O. Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326) or Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (P.O. Box 142, Warner, NH 03278).

Arrangements are under the care of Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium. To sign the online book of memories, visit mayhewfuneralhomes.com.