Obit pg 6 11-18-21
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KILLINGLY — Gerard “Gerry” Edward Cinq Mars, 92, died Nov. 7, 2021. Gerry was born on Jan. 14, 1929, to Emelia Anne (Leboeuf) of Fortierville, and Napoleon Joseph Cinq Mars of Gentilly, Canada. His family lived in W. Springfield, Mass., where Gerry attended public schools. During the Korean War, Gerry served his country as a member of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Armored Division stationed in Germany in 1951 and 1952. Following an honorable discharge, he worked in a Springfield auto body shop, inspiring a lifelong love of cars.
After his military service, Gerry used the GI Bill to attend American International College (AIC) in Springfield, and then earned his master’s in education from State Teachers College in Boston.
While at AIC, Gerry met the love of his life Annette Marie Christie. They were married on Sept. 7, 1957, in Springfield. They lived in Boston while Annette completed her nursing degree and Gerry finished graduate school. In 1959 they moved to Killingly to raise their young family. Gerry and Annette enjoyed a beautiful life together for 26 years until her death in 1983.
Gerry began teaching in the newly built Harvard H. Ellis Technical School in the fall of 1959. Mr. Cinq Mars, as he was known by his students, taught history, civics, English, and economics for 30 years. He served as department head, senior class adviser, and faculty coordinator for the yearbook and student government. He cared about the school community and loved working with students.
Gerry served the towns of Killingly and Brooklyn. He served on a commission to build affordable senior housing at Maple Courts and on a committee to renovate Brooklyn Middle School. For more than 20 years (18 years as chairman), he served on Killingly’s Water Pollution Control Authority. He helped secure more than $30 million in state and federal funding to upgrade aging sanitation lines and facilities, ensuring cleaner water in the Quinebaug River. Gerry enjoyed traveling, woodworking, home renovations, breakfast with friends, and long conversations with his siblings, children, grandchildren, and friends, especially about politics and current events. He was a car enthusiast who followed the latest models and enjoyed visiting auto museums to view the classics.
Gerry was a long-time supporter of St. James Catholic Church and Friends of Assisi Food Pantry. In the late ‘90s, Gerry met Faye P. Clapp and they enjoyed each other’s company for 15 years. He leaves his children Laura Whittier, Michele Cinq Mars (John), Sarah Gretzky (James), and Peter Cinq Mars (Karen), and his grandchildren Kyle and Zoe Neil, Madison (Cameron) and Lexington Gretzky, Alexander (Sarah) and Gabrielle Cinq Mars, and siblings Theresa and Michael.
Visitation is from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A Memorial Service will be at 10 a.m. Nov. 20 at St. James Catholic Church, Danielson. Donations: Friends of Assisi Food Pantry, 77 Water St., Danielson, CT 06239.
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