Donald Gerard

Donald (Don) Frederic Gerard, 73, of Hudson, formerly of Westford Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 27, 2022, with his loving family by his side. Don was born on November 7th, 1948 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Edwin and Frances Gerard. He always had a love of animals and during his high school years he volunteered at a local veterinary clinic. After graduating from Baldwin High School, he entered the pre-veterinarian medicine program at West Virginia University where he earned a degree in Forestry and Agriculture while also working at the Jones & Laughlin Steel Mill. He had planned to attend veterinary school after graduating, but the Vietnam War and a low draft number changed all that. Instead, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1971 and after completing officer training school, he was accepted into the navigator training program. Once he completed training, he was stationed in Plattsburgh, NY as a navigator aboard KC-135 aerial refueling tankers. During his time in service, he earned a master’s degree in Systems Management from University of Southern California before moving to Sacramento CA and becoming a navigation instructor. Later, he moved to Omaha NE as part of the 55th Strategic Air Reconnaissance Wing serving aboard the RC-135. Don attended Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery AL and then was stationed at Hanscom AFB as a procurement contracts administrator before finally attaining a position as Defense Logistics Agency Commander at Textron, before retiring from the Air Force after 21 years of service. He went on to work at BAE in Nashua for an additional 19 years as a senior subcontracts administrator. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved geography and could spend hours looking at maps and wondering where we could visit next, often taking drives around the state and making an ordinary day an adventure. Loving husband of 51 Years to Carol (Grabowski) Gerard, devoted father to his son, Jason Michael Gerard and daughter-in-law, Lauren (Dery) Gerard and beloved granddaughter Elise Marie Gerard, brother James, sister-in-law Maryann, brother-in-law Raymond Grabowski and sister-in-law Cynthia of Pittsburgh PA, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many loyal friends. You will be missed but never forgotten. A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 2nd from 3:00pm - 4:30pm with a Service of Remembrance and military honors beginning at 4:30pm in the Dumont-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Ferry St. Hudson, NH. Burial will be private. The family requests that all guests be required to wear a mask or facial covering. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fisher House Foundation at www.fisherhouse.org

Donald Gerard

November 7, 1948 - October 27, 2022