Berube & Sons Funeral Home, Inc.

Roland F. Gauthier, Sr., 86, passed away peacefully on February 13, surrounded by his loving family.  Son of the late Sinarise and Rose (Thibeault) Gauthier, he lived in Salem all of his life.  His devoted wife of almost 60 years, Therese (Pelletier), for whom he cared lovingly during her ailing years, predeceased him in 2007.

Roland is probably best known as the proud owner and operator of Gauthier Motors, a family run auto dealership in Salem, for over 65 years, with over 100 employees. He managed and grew the business that his father, Sinarise, better known as "The Boss", had started in their back yard those many years ago. When he retired in 1989, he had the honor of being the second oldest Mercedes-Benz dealership in the US.

Educated as a young man at Assumption Prep and Northeastern University, Roland then served his country in WWII as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Air Corps.  Later in life, he received his Bachelors and Masters from Salem State College. He remained active at the college throughout his life and became well known around campus by all as the friendly Ice Skating Guard at the SSC O'Keefe Athletic Center, where he also was a devoted supporter of the Viking Hockey Team.   A lifelong scholar, he spoke many languages and studied his favorite German language at the Goethe Institute of Boston.

One of his many legacies will be his deep love, involvement and commitment to his community, which reached far and wide. He was a lifelong Boy Scout supporter and was the President of their Rev. Robert B. Parker Memorial Fund and Chairman of Troop 110. He also served as Presidents of the Salem YMCA Board of Directors and Salem State College Development Fund.  Roland was a Trustee of the Salem Hospital Board, Salem Five Investment Board and Bishop Fenwick HS Board. He was a lifelong director of the Salem Willows Yacht Club. He was a board member of the Salem Chamber of Commerce.  He presided over and was involved in many auto business related organizations. He was also a long time member of the Salem Rotary Club and volunteer with the Marblehead Rec. and Park Dept.

Recently, past and present Salem Police Chiefs, Robert St. Pierre and Paul Tucker, honored Roland by paying him a visit at his home to present him with a plaque in recognition of his longstanding personal and professional support of the men and women of the Salem Police Department.

Roland was an avid yachtsman often sailing to Maine and the Cape with his close friends and family. He was a lifelong member of the Salem Willows and Palmer's Cove Yacht Clubs. He was well known for helping make and serve chowder for decades at the SWYC. 

Roland was an accomplished violinist and played in the SWYC band aka SoHo Hums. He loved playing for the veterans at the Chelsea Soldiers' Home weekly and also frequently at the SWYC and PCYC. Roland will be fondly remembered for his special birthday phone calls.  He would play "Happy Birthday" on his violin to the lucky recipient, after which he would sing the same song in many languages, such as Greek, Italian, French, and German.

He is survived by his six children: Roland F. Gauthier, Jr. and his wife, Gretchen; Anne Gauthier; Marc Gauthier, Sr. and wife, Marie; Daniel Gauthier, Sr., and wife Elizabeth; Claire-Marie Gauthier and her late husband Paul Hendry all of Salem; and Paulette Theriault and husband P. Andre of Amesbury. He also leaves his dear friend Marjorie "Nana Putt" Mace of Marblehead.

He is also survived by his grandchildren: Adam Gauthier of Salem; Michael Theriault and wife Bonni, of Boxford; Scott Theriault and wife Melanie, of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Mark Theriault and wife Colleen Wade, of Danvers; Sherie Weber and husband David of Salem, NH; Marc, Jr., of Daniel, WY; Katlyn Gauthier of Lancaster, PA; Julia, Daniel, Jr., Corey, and Brett Gauthier, all of Salem. He was the great-grandfather of Russell Pelletier Gauthier, of Jay, Alex, Matthew, Connor, Ava, and Jordyn Theriault, and of Cailyn Weber.  He had many nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as many wonderful friends. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Anita Chalmers, Theresa Bourgault, and Lucille Corrigan.