Obituary for Gordon Hugh Pepper
GORDON PEPPER
After privately mourning their devastating loss, the family of Gordon Pepper, 59 of Torrington, CT and Long Key, FL announce his death on March 12, 2020. Gordon died at home in Connecticut surrounded by family and friends after a two-year battle with a rare and aggressive cancer. During this time, he traveled to Boston for treatments and credited Dr. Xaio Wei and the staff of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for their part in allowing him to LIVE OUT LOUD with his terrible diagnosis.
The son of Philip Pepper and the late Catherine (Rena) McCutcheon Pepper, Gordon was born on June 29, 1960 and raised on Prospect Mountain in the Milton section of Litchfield where he tended dairy cows, spent as little time in school as possible and as much time as possible on anything with wheels.
He loved following his father (who he called The Duke) to work and was running construction equipment before he could reach the pedals. By 11 years old, he was renting a farmers field to plant, mow, bale and sell hay and the realization that hard work would pay off established the work ethic for his life. He founded P&G Pepper Construction and formed life-long valued friendships with other contractors in the Torrington area.
As much as work dominated his days, Gordy played just as hard on his time off. He had a passion for travel, gardening, building stone walls on his properties and shopping. On weekends, he loved to party, dance, laugh and generally kick up dust. “Gordy stories” are legendary.
Gordy found his happy place in the Florida Keys where he made his home during the Winters for the past 15 years and had a close group of island friends. He just finished rebuilding his beloved “Boathouse on Buttonwood” after the damage caused by Hurricane Irma and was able to spend some time there in January. His ashes will be scattered there.
In a world that has been turned upside down, his light, laughter and sense of fun are particularly missed.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Kathleen Garrity Pepper; his father Philip Pepper and Phil’s long-time partner, Nancy Derwitsch; his brother, Gregory Pepper, wife Stephanie and son Aiden of Apopa, FL; his niece, Alyssa Pequignot of Boston; step-children Abby (Matt) Nolin and Brian (Melissa) Saunders of West Hartford and Patrick (Lizeth) Saunders of Stoneham, Massachusetts; his beloved grandchildren (who’s name for him was Grumpy) Nora Saunders, Ronan Saunders, Lachlan Nolin and Piper Nolin; several aunts, uncles and cousins, especially William Zawadski, with whom he was particularly close. He was pre-deceased by his mother Catherine Pepper and his sister, Janice Pepper.
Gordy cherished his close friendships with his group of friends-who-are-like-family with whom he made memories to fill several lifetimes.
A funeral service will be held privately and a celebration of life will follow in the Florida Keys at a future date.
Per Gordy’s instructions, a (“fun”) Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 27th, from 5pm to 10pm at the P&G Pepper shop at 176 Old Winsted Road in Torrington and in true Gordy fashion, there will be dancing.
After privately mourning their devastating loss, the family of Gordon Pepper, 59 of Torrington, CT and Long Key, FL announce his death on March 12, 2020. Gordon died at home in Connecticut surrounded by family and friends after a two-year battle with a rare and aggressive cancer. During this time, he traveled to Boston for treatments and credited Dr. Xaio Wei and the staff of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for their part in allowing him to LIVE OUT LOUD with his terrible diagnosis.
The son of Philip Pepper and the late Catherine (Rena) McCutcheon Pepper, Gordon was born on June 29, 1960 and raised on Prospect Mountain in the Milton section of Litchfield where he tended dairy cows, spent as little time in school as possible and as much time as possible on anything with wheels.
He loved following his father (who he called The Duke) to work and was running construction equipment before he could reach the pedals. By 11 years old, he was renting a farmers field to plant, mow, bale and sell hay and the realization that hard work would pay off established the work ethic for his life. He founded P&G Pepper Construction and formed life-long valued friendships with other contractors in the Torrington area.
As much as work dominated his days, Gordy played just as hard on his time off. He had a passion for travel, gardening, building stone walls on his properties and shopping. On weekends, he loved to party, dance, laugh and generally kick up dust. “Gordy stories” are legendary.
Gordy found his happy place in the Florida Keys where he made his home during the Winters for the past 15 years and had a close group of island friends. He just finished rebuilding his beloved “Boathouse on Buttonwood” after the damage caused by Hurricane Irma and was able to spend some time there in January. His ashes will be scattered there.
In a world that has been turned upside down, his light, laughter and sense of fun are particularly missed.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Kathleen Garrity Pepper; his father Philip Pepper and Phil’s long-time partner, Nancy Derwitsch; his brother, Gregory Pepper, wife Stephanie and son Aiden of Apopa, FL; his niece, Alyssa Pequignot of Boston; step-children Abby (Matt) Nolin and Brian (Melissa) Saunders of West Hartford and Patrick (Lizeth) Saunders of Stoneham, Massachusetts; his beloved grandchildren (who’s name for him was Grumpy) Nora Saunders, Ronan Saunders, Lachlan Nolin and Piper Nolin; several aunts, uncles and cousins, especially William Zawadski, with whom he was particularly close. He was pre-deceased by his mother Catherine Pepper and his sister, Janice Pepper.
Gordy cherished his close friendships with his group of friends-who-are-like-family with whom he made memories to fill several lifetimes.
A funeral service will be held privately and a celebration of life will follow in the Florida Keys at a future date.
Per Gordy’s instructions, a (“fun”) Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 27th, from 5pm to 10pm at the P&G Pepper shop at 176 Old Winsted Road in Torrington and in true Gordy fashion, there will be dancing.