Pioneer in historic home restoration

Alan Gaskill Gary, 85, who championed historic home
restoration and historic urban renewal efforts in the
late 1960's through the early 1980's in Bordentown, NJ
died July 21st after a brief illness.

Son of the former and late Chesterfield Township Mayor
Frank L. Gary, Jr. and Ruth Gaskill Gary, his work in
Bordentown, beginning in 1969 through 1983 helped spur
a chain reaction of historic preservation long before
it was popular. His family company, The Gary
Corporation, began with his brother Frank Gary and
restored over 20 homes dating from the 18th and 19th
centuries. His work and efforts had been featured
both in newspapers and on NJ Public Television.

His varied community service included the Bossert
Civic Association, The Bordentown Historical Society,
The Bordentown Chamber of Commerce and The Bordentown
Township Study Commission. He was also active in the
American Legion Bordentown Post 26 and the Bordentown
Elks Lodge and served as a Chairman of the Bordentown
Boy Scouts as well as a Trustee of the Holy Cross
Lutheran Church.

Before pursuing historic home restoration, he proudly
served as a U.S. Naval Officer during WWII. He later
worked as an air cargo consultant for TWA in New York,
NY and as an air terminal manager for the crucial
Military Airlift Command at McGuire AFB.

Survivors include his former wife, Lorraine Gary;
daughter and son-in-law Susan and Glenn James; son and
daughter-in-law Robert and Judith Gary; and son and
partner Jonathan Gary and Wayne Geiselman; four
grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Peppler Funeral Home, 122
Crosswicks St, Bordentown, NJ, Thursday, July 26th, at 10 am. Interment will follow in North Crosswicks Cemetery, Hamilton Twp. Friends may call Thursday at the funeral home from 9 am until time of service. In lieu of flowers, the family
has asked that donations be made to the Samaritan
Hospice at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly,
NJ. (800) 229-8183.