Shrewsbury – Gordon J. Turpin, 89, of Shrewsbury, MA, Wells, Maine and formerly of Worcester, MA, died on July 29, 2024 peacefully surrounded by his family.
He was born in Worcester, MA on August 19, 1934, son of Gordon and Margaret (Burke) Turpin. Gordon was especially close to his mother’s godparents, Daniel Feeney and his sister, Margaret Feeney.
Gordon (Turp) graduated from St. John’s High School, Temple Street, Class of 1954, with a strong admiration for the Xaverian Brothers. He served in the United States Army as a Private First Class for two years in Okinawa, Japan. Upon his return, Gordon married his high school sweetheart, Eilyana Moynihan, on May 11, 1957 at Ascension Church in Worcester, MA.
Over the next 50 years, Gordon worked at Norton Company and owned and operated Moynihan’s Pub and Restaurant on Main Street in Worcester founded in 1933 by his father-in-law, Timothy A. Moynihan and his wife, Eileen Moriarty Moynihan. Moynihan’s was one of the early establishments in the city to obtain a liquor license following the end of Prohibition. Gordon was a proud member for many years to the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Worcester Elks, YMCA of Worcester and Maine, Our Lady of the Rosary (Worcester) and St. Mary’s (Wells, Maine).
Gordon and Eilyana’s proudest achievement was ensuring that all seven of their children graduated from Catholic high schools and continued to support them as all received college degrees. They instilled in their children the values of hard work, service, and the importance of never giving up on their dreams. Education and faith were the cornerstones of their approach to parenting a large family, and they succeeded beyond measure.
After Eilyana died in September of 2006 and missing her terribly, Turp moved to Wells, Maine, where he found peace at the beach, boating and going to his favorite restaurant, Mike’s Clam Shack where he had many friends. He loved the ocean and the time he spent with his family and friends.
Turp leaves his seven children: John and his wife Karen of Hillsborough, North Carolina; Marybeth and her husband Jack Belsito of New York City; Tom and his wife Susan of Winchester, MA; Kathleen and her husband Paul O’Keefe of Worcester, MA; Michael and his wife Deborah of Shrewsbury, MA; Eilyana (Ann) and her husband John Rose of Milford, MA; and Margaret and her husband George Belsito of Shrewsbury, MA. He also leaves 15 grandchildren: Caroline and Patrick; Matthew, Kate, and Liza; Eileen, Kristen, and Elizabeth; Meghan and Kelly; Aiden; Matthew and Michael; and Molly and Thomas. He is survived by seven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and his sister, Margaret Carrier of Westborough, MA. He was predeceased by his in-laws: Robert Carrier; Mary and Joseph Cox; Arthur and Jean Moynihan; and Patricia and Robert Mullins.
Calling hours are on Thursday, August 1, 2024 from 4 to 7 PM, in the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster Street, Worcester, MA. The funeral will be Friday, August 2, 2024 with a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales Street, Worcester, MA. with burial at St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to YMCA of Central Massachusetts Community Branch, 799 Main Street, Worcester, or St. John’s High School, 378 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA.
