BALLSTON SPA — Henry Louis Gagne, 92, of Church Avenue Ballston Spa passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, October 29.
“Lou” was born in the Town of Webb on October 24, 1921 to Louis P. and Agnes V. Gagne. He graduated from Schuylerville High School.
The two loves of his life were family and piano. His wife, Mildred Gerard Gagne, and he spent 67 beautiful years together. Mildred died in 2009. His other love, piano, was introduced to him at age 6. After four years of formal training, it was clear that he was a prodigy. He accompanied the Schuylerville High School Orchestra at age 10. He loved music, people, and entertaining and he set off on his experience based musical career.
Before World War II, he and friends, bass player Cy Gorham, clarinetist Billy Gardiner, drummer Cider Jennings, and guitarist Al Forbes formed a dance band. His guitarist brother-in-law June Blackwood and he also spent many hours improvising and performing together. Once he returned from the war, while his band had moved on, he decided to start out on his solo piano career. That career saw him playing for many local establishments, his favorite gigs included 16 years at the Trade Winds, many years at the Wishing Well, the Union Coach House, and the Inn in Saratoga. It was in the Trade Winds that he performed for many hungry SPAC performers including Van Cliburn and Tim Conway (Carol Burnett Show). Van Cliburn, wanted to know how Lou could play for four hours without repeating a song or taking out a piece of sheet music. Van Cliburn also was impressed that if a customer requested a tune that Lou didn’t know, once hummed, Lou could play the whole tune like he had known it forever. Tim Conway performed his “shuffling old man” routine on and near Lou’s piano. Lou recalled playing through tears of laughter.
One thing his following always remembered is that as they walked into the restaurant Lou would play their favorite song. He felt privileged to share his talent with many celebrations including hundreds of weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements and summertime track outings. C.V. and Mary Lou Whitney often hired Lou to play for their parties at Cady Hill. He loved that Mary Lou remembered him with a beautiful bouquet of flowers at Ellis Hospital following his heart surgery. While serving in WWII, Lou played in the backup band for a performance for the military by Dinah Shore. When returning from the war he played in New York City for a brief time and met and jammed with Louis Armstrong, Les Brown, and others. When asked why he didn't continue to pursue his career at that level, his answer was love of his beloved Mil and family, Lynn, Sandy, and his Eastman School of Music graduate, Dawn. All family get-togethers included living room jam sessions with other local musicians, including his son Lynn on the saxophone. He encouraged his children in their own musical adventures and made sure that every one of his three had “a piano” and knew what to do with it.
The thing his many friends and family members will remember the most as they think of him, is his easy going and friendly personality. He never and I mean never complained. Can you imagine that when asked on his death bed, how he was doing? He had just enough energy left to reply, “A-plus.” He once had everyone in Dr. Nolan’s waiting room singing a song with him. He shared his musical gifts with the Head Start Program and the Home of the Good Shepherd. He served in the Ballston Spa VFW, Lions and Rotary Clubs. He wrote the words to the song still sung today at Rotary meetings. He was a member of Local 301 of the International Electrical Workers Union while operating a gas turbine lathe from his cherry picker at General Electric. He was also a member of Local 506 of the International Federation of Musicians that made him a lifelong member after serving as President for many years.
His family will remember his favorite saying. Whenever they told him they loved him, he always responded “Love you more.” This saying sums up his generous life. It was about music, family, love and quality time together.
Lou was predeceased after 67 wonderful years by his wife Mildred Gagne, their only son Lynn Gagne, his half-brother Ernest Provost, his twin sisters Beatrice Standish and Blanche Lambert, his brother Charles Gagne, his sister Rose Natale and his brothers in law and sisters in law, Ida and Buck Gray, Ward and Eleanor Russ, Robert Fountain, Leona Blackwood and Thomas and Marie Gerard.
His presence will be missed tremendously by his daughters Sandra (George) Stanislowsky, Dawn (Ed) Fewkes, his daughter-in-law Joyce Gagne; his grandchildren Jeff (Robyn) Gagne,Tom (Diana) Gagne, Jenny (Paul) Madak, Michelle (Scott) Burlingame, Stephanie Stanislowsky, Jesse (fiancée Sarah) Fewkes, Zachary (Megan) Fewkes, Josiah Fewkes and all his precious great-grandchildren Jeffrey, Jacquelyn, Jordan, and Veronica Joy Gagne, Jonathon and Corin Gagne, Jordan, Joel, Samantha Madak, twins Brianna and Blake Madak, and Payton Ryan, his sister Theresa Callahan, his brother James (Myrtle) Gagne, sisters in law Lena Gerard and Nina Fountain, brother in law June Blackwood, and many nieces and nephews.
