Gilbert A. Vaal

Gilbert A. Vaal died on Tuesday, August 24th 2004 at Catholic Medical Center after a long battle with illness to enter his heavenly home, he was 69.

Gilbert was born February 25th 1935 in the town of St. Niklaas, Belgium, the son of the late Francis and Maria (Smets) Vaal. He lived his childhood days with his brothers in the midst of WWII and enemy occupation of his country. In 1950 at the age of 15 he immigrated to the United States settling in Chester, NH with his family and attended Manchester Central High School followed by service in the Army National Guard. It was during his time at Central high School that he met his future wife Agnes Lacourse and the two were married at St. Joseph's Chapel in Manchester on February 15th 1958.

Gilbert became a police officer in the city of Manchester, NH in 1958 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant before retiring in September, 1980. Following his retirement from the police force he was appointed as the Director of Mall Security for the Mall of NH until 1990 then he moved back into the law enforcement community as a Bailiff then Head Bailiff for the Hillsbourough County Courthouse. He recently retired in 2003 to enjoy retirement and his large family. He was most proud of his career in law enforcement and had many memorable and significant accomplishments. He was awarded the "Key to the City" upon his retirement by the late former city Mayor Dick Stanton for his services to the city. He was a member of the Optimist Club, served as Police Commissioner for three terms and was a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public for many years. Gilbert also had an artistic side to him in that he was a talented musician and painter. He enjoyed entertaining people, playing the organ at weddings, social events and at home with his family and friends and he enjoyed oil painting for relaxation and the personal gratification it brought him. He was an avid sports fan of both soccer and football with his favorite teams being the University of Notre Dame and the New England Patriots.

In addition to his wife, Gilbert is survived by their five children, Mark (Ruth) Vaal of Wausau WI, Diane (Pete) Playanakos of Athens, Greece, Debra (Scott) McCurdy of Hooksett, NH, Anita (Robert) Lemay and James (Lisa) Vaal of Manchester, NH along with eight grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law, Alfons (Simona) Vaal of Dunbarton, NH, Joseph (Julia) Vaal of Phoenix, AZ, Michael (Cindy) Vaal of Manchester and his sister-in-law Wanda (Golden) Vaal of Ottomwa, IA, along with many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents Gilbert was preceded in death by his brother Oscar Vaal.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Saturday August 28, 2004 at St. Jude Church, Mammoth Rd., Londonderry, NH. A committal service followed at Mount Calvary Mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 360 State Route 101, Suite 501, Bedford, NH, 03102-5032, the American Diabetes Association, New England Region, 249 Canal St., Manchester, NH 03101, or the National Kidney Foundation, One Tremont St., Concord, NH 03301.