Tom Gage

Tom Gage (91) passed away peacefully with family by his side on June 5th in Hilton Head Island,
SC, after a period of failing health. Tom was born in Dover, NH to Myrle and Leonie Gage, and
attended Somersworth schools where he met his future wife, Lillian Goupil. He enlisted in the
Army during the Korean conflict with honorable discharge in 1953 at which time he became a
patrolman for the city of Somersworth. This began his long career in law enforcement, a career
he loved. In 1957, at the young age of 25, he was appointed Police Chief for the town of
Whitefield, NH, being the youngest Police Chief in the state. He served as Chief until his retirement in
1975. He always wanted to give folks and especially kids a 2 nd chance if they got into trouble.
Upon his retirement, he just couldn’t give up law enforcement, and became a Coos County
Deputy Sheriff and went to Florida for winters as Head of Security for the Belleview Biltmore
Hotel in Belair, FL. Tom was also a member of many law enforcement associations, as well as
the NH Police Chiefs Association where he served 2 terms as President.
Tom loved sports! He played baseball and basketball and was co-captain of his High School
football team. After moving to Whitefield, he started little league baseball and basketball, and
started a men’s basketball town team. He was also a diehard Red Sox and Celtics fan. Even
later in life, he could be found wearing his Red Sox hat!
Tom was also the owner of Gage Real Estate in Whitefield, along with his wife, Lil. He was
known by many in the North Country as “the Land Man”. He loved to show large parcels of land
that he could hike around. Tom was always active in the community of Whitefield that he loved.
He was the Overseer of Public Welfare, Director of Civil Defense, involved with Cub Scouts,
member of the Whitefield Planning Board, and North Country Board of Realtors. He was a
member of the Elks, VFW, American Legion, where he served as Commander, and President of
the Whitefield Chamber of Commerce. In 1969, he was sent as a Special Delegate from New
Hampshire by Governor Meldrin Thompson to the Nixon Inauguration, working with the DC
Metropolitan Police Department.
In 1995, while working in the capacity of Coos County Deputy Sheriff, he was involved in an
incident that left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury. After a lengthy rehabilitation period, he was
able to resume some aspects of his former life but with some handicaps. He was a trooper and
worked diligently to regain as much physical integrity as he could. He was a stubborn man, and
that made him stronger in the long run! He could, however, no longer work in law enforcement
or real estate. And he missed them both immensely. He was now officially retired!
He moved to South Carolina in 2013 to be near his grandchildren. Tom is survived by his 3
daughters: Susan Barber, St. Petersburg, FL, Jenny Drake (Richard) of Port Royal, SC and
Denise Crowley (Jeffrey) of Roan Mountain, TN. He is also survived by two grandchildren,
Michel Drake, and Taylor Aten (Anthony). He was predeceased by his son, Stephen in 1973.
He, along with his sense of humor, will be missed by many.
His burial will be at the Beaufort National Cemetery with veteran’s honors. There will be a
private family service honoring his life.
Copeland Funeral Service is assisting the Gage family with arrangements.