Eugene Thomas Gadsby

Eugene Thomas “Tom” Gadsby, 92, of Silver Bay, Minnesota passed away on October 22, 2024, after a long battle with dementia. Tom was born on February 23, 1932, to Harold and Mary (Vaughan) in Boston, MA and grew up in Cambridge. After leaving high school, he went on to work as a union iron worker with the International Association of Ironworkers Local 7 and helped construct many of Boston’s high-rises that adorn the city’s skyline today. He met his wife Sandra (Driscoll) in 1971 and went on to have three children, Thomas, Susanne and Michael, and settled in Tewksbury, MA.

In 1977, Tom learned of an expansion at the Reserve Mining Company in Silver Bay, fell in love with the area and moved his family there in 1978. When not working at the plant, he enjoyed taking his children camping, fishing, canoeing, and taking in all that the North Shore of Lake Superior has to offer. Tom retired in 1995, which allowed him to spend more time outdoors doing the things he loved. He enjoyed taking long walks and snowshoeing in the woods, and rarely sat still for too long. He spent countless hours being “Grampy” to his grandchildren, and doting on Sandy, his loving wife of 46 years. Prior to his eyesight failing, he was an avid reader and had a vast knowledge of history and world events and was skilled at working with his hands. Although he was a man of few words, this knowledge made him a great conversationalist, which often gave those around him the opportunity to hear his gregarious laugh. Tom never complained, was the first person to lend a helping hand no matter the need and was a workhorse well into his 80s.

Tom was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Charles, Chester (Joe) and James; his sisters, Frances, Sister Mary Henry; and his wife, Sandra.

He is survived by his sister Marie Gadsby, formerly of Somerville, MA.; his children Thomas Gadsby and his wife Jill (Ricker) of North Reading, MA; Susanne Suojanen and her husband Mark of Garrison, MN; and Michael Gadsby and his wife Molly (Byrnes) of Silver Bay, MN. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Thomas, William and Olivia Gadsby, Kristin and Corey Napper, and Griffin and Kennedy Gadsby, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A private remembrance ceremony will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers or donations, Tom’s family asks that you unplug for an hour, take a walk in the wilderness, and enjoy the tranquility, as Tom would have done.