Obituary of Stephen J. "Steve" Gurdon

Stephen J. “Steve” Gurdon, 61, of Danvers passed away on Saturday January 22, 2011, surrounded by his family at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, following a battle with lymphoma. He was the husband of Elizabeth (Neenan) Gurdon with whom he shared 39 years of marriage. Steve was born on January 20, 1950, in Mosonmagyarovar, Hungary, to Joseph and Anna Gurdon. Steve and his family emigrated to the U.S. first residing in Marblehead and eventually moving to Salem, MA. Steve was a 1969 graduate of Salem High School. Following his graduation, he enlisted into the United States Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam with the 93rd Engineer Battalion. On February 1, 1972 he was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of SP5. He then pursued his education at NSCC completing their electrical engineering program. Steve began his career in the computer industry in the sales division. He established a U.S. office for Axis Corp., whose headquarters were in Sweden. He worked for many U.S. and European companies. Most recently, he was employed by Hayes Instrument Services Inc. of Billerica. He loved his job, and the people he worked with. Steve was a longtime member of the North Shore Business Forum. He was an avid golfer, racquetball player, alpine skier and reader. He loved spending time with his family and many longtime friends. On weekends he and his family, including his beloved dog Bella, traveled to Freedom, NH. Steve and his family liked to spend time around the campfire telling stories, and boating on Ossipee Lake with his Chippy Lane friends. In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, he is survived by two daughters, Jennifer “Jen” D’Amico and her husband Michael of Peabody; Ashley Gurdon of Danvers and her boyfriend Matthew Morneau of Peabody; 2 brothers; George Gurdon and his wife Sharon of Beverly; Laszlo Gurdon of Salem; a sister Georgianna Doka and her husband Sandor “Alex” of Reading. He is also survived by three granddaughters Samantha, Hannah and Abigail D’Amico; a sister-in-law & her husband, Nancy Savageau and Ronald of Salem; 5 nieces, Marianna Zanni, Stephanie Doucette-Walsh, Christine Berchoff, Kerry Mullen, Susan Toccio and his nephew Ronald Savageau; as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews. His funeral will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 10:45 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon at St. Richard of Chichester Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Friday, January 28, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Steve’s name to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923 or to the MGH / North Shore Cancer Center, C/O Development Office, 102 Endicott St., Danvers, MA 01923.