FRYEBURG — Gerald “Gay” Kiesman has lived a life of service.

Gerald was honored on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Fryeburg Academy’s Reunion Banquet with the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award.

This award is presented annually by the Fryeburg Academy Alumni Association to an alum who has rendered meritorious service to the school and/or community.

Gerald “Gay” Kiesman was born in Fryeburg and grew up during the Depression in East Fryeburg. He graduated from Fryeburg Academy with the Class of 1944. At the age of 18, Gay enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in World War II. He went to war even though he was granted a deferment since all of his older brothers were already serving (think Saving Private Ryan). Soon after enlisting, he found himself on a troop transport to the Philippine Islands as part of General MacArthur’s liberation group.

Gay married Ada Allard from Conway, N.H., and they raised three boys, Paul ’73, Roger ’78, and Jerry ’80.

From early on in life, Gay was all about service. Enlisting when he didn’t have to was just the first example of his commitment. While in the Philippines, he joined the Fryeburg Fire Department and he is currently the oldest member of any fire department in Maine. Last fall, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Maine Fire Fighters as well as the Spirit of America Award from the Oxford County Fire Commissioners.

Upon returning from the war, he became a member of the American Legion, as well as the Masons. Gay is the co-founder of the Fryeburg Rescue, and over the years has also served as a special police officer, town fire warden, and civil defense director. For many years, he launched the docks in the Saco River for swimming lessons, as well as retrieving them in the fall.

He worked for Osgood Brothers for 48 years, before retiring and launching his second career with the Maine Forest Service. During this time, he served in many capacities including driving a jet fuel refueling truck. This was especially exciting since it allowed him the privilege of having hundreds of gallons of A-1 jet fuel parked in his yard overnight. Gay worked for more than a decade with the Forest Service before retiring, again.

Gay and Ada also started a small ceramic business, A & G Ceramics, which housed more than 10,000 molds. He was also very active in the Fryeburg Fair as Gay held the coveted position of “Chairperson of the Signs.” This meant he drove to all the intersecting roadways into Fryeburg to make sure the signage was intact and accurate. He would leave every day by 4:30 a.m., so he would be back in time to open the exhibitors’ barns.

Currently, in this phase of his retirement, he keeps several beehives, maintains a half-acre farm plot, and is still active in the fire department. He was honored last fall with a trip to Washington, D.C., as part of Honor Flight Maine. His son, Jerry, accompanied him. Honor Flight Maine is a nonprofit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for their service and sacrifices. The organization transports heroes to D.C. to tour, experience and reflect at their memorials.

Gay’s entire life has been about service — service to country, state, community and neighbor. He would have it no other way. Congratulations! — Submitted by Dawn Gale, Director of Academy Fund & Alumni Relations