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Efficient Executive

Their sheer numbers — six boys and one girl — made the Gay family hard to ignore as they grew up in the industrial city of Taunton, Mass. Their father, a longtime state representative, would march them into his law office on the occasional Saturday for dusting and polishing duties, which he watched over with a stern but twinkling eye.

While most of the children stayed in the area when they grew up, the second oldest, Peter, moved north of Boston to become a plant manager for Raytheon. But he stayed close to his family, spending summers with them on Cape Cod. And he never forgot the attention to spit and polish, in his work or play. "It doesn't shine itself," he'd reply when people admired the condition of his vintage car.

Mr. Gay, who would have turned 55 this month, was commuting to California, where he'd been asked to increase production at a Raytheon plant producing a new military radar system. The plant had been producing five systems a day and the goal was nine; when Mr. Gay boarded Flight 11 for his weekly commute on Sept. 11, production was up to 14.
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 30, 2001.

Peter A. Gay, vice president of operations at Raytheon

By Globe Staff, 9/16/2001

Peter A. Gay of Tewksbury, vice president of operations at Raytheon, was killed Tuesday in the crash of American Airlines Flight 11 in New York. He was 54.

Mr. Gay was born and raised in Taunton. He graduated from Monsignor James Coyle High School, class of 1964, and was a 1969 graduate of Northeastern University with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering.

He had been an employee of Raytheon since college, most recently serving as vice president of operations for electronic systems, based in Andover.

Mr. Gay lived in Tewksbury for the past 15 years. He was very active in United Way campaigns in the Tewksbury area.

He spent much of his time at his home in Pocasset, on Cape Cod. He enjoyed boating and ran in the annual Falmouth Road Race.

He was a member of the Sons of Italy, and was a communicant at Sacred Heart Church in Lowell.

He leaves his wife, Linda (Perez); his father, Peter B. of Taunton; a daughter, Larissa L. of Tewksbury; two sons, Peter A. Jr. and Jonathan P., both of Hyannis; a sister, Laurel DePrest of Hebron, Conn.; and five brothers, David and William, both of Taunton, Robert of North Dighton, Francis of Wareham, and Thomas of Marion.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Church in Lowell.

Editorial Obituary published in THE BOSTON GLOBE on 9/16/2001.