Gridley M. Losee, Sr.

Gridley McAdam Losee, Sr., was born in 1939 in Utica, NY, and raised in New Hartford, NY. After graduating high school in 1957, he attended St. Lawrence University earning a B.A  in Business Administration in 1961. Following college he enlisted in the United States Army, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant while serving at Fort Carson, Colorado from 1962-1964. Thereafter, he began a career as an industrial engineer moving to Boston in 1964. He worked as a foreman for General Motors and GTE Sylvania – Phillips before going into business for himself.  In 1969, he purchased the Dairy Queen in Ipswich, MA, which he owned and operated for 37 years until his retirement at age 68 in 2008.

Gridley had a passion for travel and new experiences and visited all seven continents. With his first wife, Rita, he visited (Egypt, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania). With his second wife, Pat (Rose), he traveled to Europe, Antarctica, Machu Picchu, South America, Tahiti, South Africa and the Mediterranean.

Gridley was also an avid sportsman.  He loved skiing, spending many winters in the White Mountains with a devoted group of skiing friends, with whom he remained close throughout his life.  Gridley was one of the original members of the Boxford Men’s Over Thirty Softball League, playing for the Raiders for 33 seasons before retiring from the mound at age 73.  He was a devoted New England Patriots football fan with he and his brother Walter season tickets for 45 years.

He was a performer at heart, participating in theatrical productions, and also as a clown.   Since the 1970s, he was a member of “Alley 54”, a clown club in Salem, MAand adopted two clown names, “Gumper” and “Neon”.  In recent years, Grid was joined by his wife Pat (Rosey the clown). He and his wife Pat were enthusiastic dancers with many friends at the Continental Restaurant and other venues.

Gridley also devoted time to creating artwork and was proud of the mosaics he enjoyed creating.  Gridley also wrote, authoring five published works.

Gridley is survived by his wife, Pat (Rose), his sons, Gridley (Adam) M. Losee, Jr., his wife Elizabeth, and granddaughters Charlotte and Caroline as well as and Alden T. Losee, his wife, Tara, and granddaughter Julia, and grandson Evan. Also leaving his step-son Ryan Weldon McAlary and his husband Philip Coppola. He leaves his brother Walter and his wife Ellie, nieces Kirsten and Heather and his sister Heather and George Link and his niece, Mesha.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to join the family at Polcari's, Rt 1 N. Saugus following the Funeral Home Services, from 7pm-10pm.