Gary William Fries. passed peacefully from this life on August 19, 2022. Gary was born on February 10, 1950, in Buffalo, New York to Marie (Rohe) and Earl Fries. He grew up in Kenmore, New York, attending Kenmore schools and graduating from Kenmore West High School in 1968. He briefly attended Penn State on a full basketball scholarship but soon realized college basketball was not for him. He and his high school and college friend Mark Kibler left Buffalo and lived in Jacksonville, Florida, before returning to Buffalo. Upon returning to Buffalo, he went to the University at Buffalo and graduated in 1973. He remained in the Buffalo area, where he started a family with his former wife, Kathleen Watkins Fries. They welcomed their first son, Michael, on July 30, 1978, and then their second son Bradley on March 27, 1980. In 1987, the family moved to Portland, Maine. Following an amicable divorce, he met his current wife, Deb Gerry, on January 2, 1998, during the “ice storm,” and they were married in their backyard on May 17, 1998. Gary instantly gained 3 stepchildren, Crystal (Thibeault) Pike, David Thibeault and Michael Thibeault, who he treated as his own children.
Prior to his retirement in October of 2013, Gary worked as a Master Scheduler/Production Control for General Dynamics Armament & Technical Systems in Saco. They moved to Higgins Beach in May of 2019 and enjoyed walking around the community and beach. Deb retired in October of 2019, and they traveled to Winter Haven, Florida during the Winter months. In March of 2020, Covid arrived, and they returned to Maine. In June of 2020, Gary was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma and six months later in December of the same year, Deb was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. They sold their home in Winter Haven as they knew they wanted to be close to their children and grandchildren.
There was nothing more important to Gary than family. When Mike and Brad played Little League baseball, he coached their teams. As they got older, he never missed their baseball games. He was also always on hand to watch Crystal, Dave and Mike at their sporting events. He and Deb were incredibly happy and proud to support all 5 children and see them all graduate from college and grad school. On May 4, 2009, Gary and Deb welcomed their first grandchild, Amelia, followed 5 months later by Wesley. In 2013, the number of grandchildren more than doubled when Owen, Samuel and Calvin arrived, followed by Nolan in 2015 and Benjamin in 2016. Gary was happiest when he and Deb spent time with the grandkids. As they got older, Grandpa created a master schedule of games so he could maximize the games he could watch. For several years, the family rented a lakehouse on Lake Winnipesaukee and Gary loved having all the kids and grandkids together. Gary also looked forward to the annual tradition with the grandkids of decorating Christmas cookies. Grandpa had to have his own plate of cookies to decorate!
Gary was a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan and when football season started, he would tell Deb “the Bills are going to be good this year!” He was also an avid Red Sox fan. He and Deb attended many games at Fenway Park and also attended several Red Sox Spring Training games in Fort Myers. Gary enjoyed watching most sports, something that he and Deb did together.
He is survived by his loving wife, Deb Gerry; his sons, Michael and his wife Melissa of Standish, and Bradley and his wife Laura of Portland; stepchildren Crystal Pike and husband Randy of Sudbury, Massachusetts, David Thibeault and fiancé Heidi of Alfred, and Michael Thibeault and wife Morgan DiPietro of Portland; grandchildren Amelia Fries, Wesley Pike, Owen Fries, Samuel Fries, Calvin Pike, Nolan Pike and Benjamin Fries; his sister Janet Wood and husband John of Nipoma, California; mother-in-law Sylvia Gerry of Scarborough, Maine; sister-in-law Darlene Gerry and partner Doug Davlin of Blackfoot, Idaho and brother-in-law Ken Gerry, Jr. and wife Pam of Alfred; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Earl and Marie Fries, and his father-in-law, Kenny Gerry, Sr.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 167 Black Point Road, Scarborough. Immediately following the service, the family invites you to a reception at the Higgins Beach Association Clubhouse, 49 Greenwood Avenue, Scarborough.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s memory may be made to the AIM at Melanoma Foundation, 5729 Lebanon Road, Suite 144-305, Frisco, TX 75034 or online at https://support.aimatmelanoma.org/give/384382/#!/donation/checkout
Online condolences and tributes may be shared at Gary’s Book Of Memories at www.bibbersautumngreen.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak St., in Alfred.