Gladys Sakowich, an incredible business woman, leader, philanthropist, devoted wife, died Tuesday on her 97th birthday.  Born to Frank and Harriet (Armitage) Tidswell of England, young widow to the late Robert Strauten, married the late Anthony (“Tony”) Sakowich with whom she shared nearly 60 years of unwavering love, Gladys grew up in Methuen and spent most of her life between her marital home in Andover and their home-away-from-home on Lake Winnipesaukee and Governor’s Island in Gilford, NH.

She took over running her 1st late husband’s family lumber business in Lawrence after he was killed in WWII.  She was a female business pioneer, enjoying finance and investment, helping to lead and serve on many charitable, banking, and educational boards including the Andover and Laconia Garden Clubs, the Home for Little Wanderers, Merrimack College Board of Trustees, the Quota Club, Shawsheen Women’s Club, YMCAs, Women’s City Club of Boston, Nevins Library, the November Club, Lawrence Cooperative Bank and Merrimack Coop Bank.

Gladys generously supported numerous charities and educational missions including Merrimack College for which the Gladys Sakowich Center is named in her honor, the Lawrence Boys & Girls Clubs, the Lakes Region Boys and Girls Club whose headquarters in Laconia is named her honor, Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School in Lawrence, Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School in Laconia, Outward Bound/Thompson Island in Boston whose Sakowich Hall is named in her honor, churches, libraries, gifting her 9-acre Andover homestead to the Andover Village Improvement Society for recreational and open space, ever passionate about improving the lives of children through scholarship. 

Gladys was fiercely generous, outspoken and strong, devoted to children and passionate about education.  She left a huge mark on the world and her legacy will live on continuing to greatly improve the lives of children.

Calling hours will be on Tuesday, March 3rd, from 9:00-11:00am at the Charles F. Dewhirst Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA, with a funeral service following at 11:00am in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be at the West Parish Cemetery in Andover.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the organizations that Gladys was involved with. To leave an online condolence, please visit facebook.com/DewhirstFuneralHome

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