Peabody – Anthony P. Gawrys Jr., 77 of Peabody, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 10th, 2025 at the VA hospital in Bedford.
Anthony, (known as AP to his friends and family) was born in Peabody on December 6, 1947. He was the son of the late Sophia (Kastanopoulos) Gawrys and Anthony P Gawrys Sr. He was educated in the Peabody, MA school system.
AP enlisted in the Navy in 1965, and soon after joined the Seabees’ MCB-8. He served the majority of his deployment in Okinawa, Japan and Hue, Vietnam.
While in the service, he purchased his first camera, a 35mm Minolta SRT 101 and began the process of teaching himself the art photography, while using the Vietnam landscape and fellow soldiers as his subjects.
Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in the early 70’s, his passion for photography led him to turn in his Minolta and purchase his first Nikon F camera, which he used to establish his new career as a local freelance sports photographer. Over the next 15 years, whether it be a high school or college game, a Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, or Celtics game, his action photos of the likes of Carl Yaz, Jim Rice, Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, Steve Grogan, and Mohamad Ali proved his immense talent, and his press passes certainly painted a picture of his literal sideline view, capturing moments in sports history.
As his photography skill expanded, so did his subjects. AP’s focus became celebrities. Taking numerous photos of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, one landing on the cover of Star Magazine, Bob Hope, Elvis Presley during is one and only concert in Boston, the cast of Bewitched, while they filmed an episode in Salem. His photos have been published in Life Magazine, National Geographic, numerous photography magazines and commercial advertisements.
The highlight of his professional career came in 1978, when he was asked by a journalist, from Boston Today Magazine, to provide photographs for a story that she was doing on the great chef, Julia Child. Both AP and the journalist were fortunate enough to spend an afternoon with Julia and her husband Paul at their home in Cambridge. They listened to nostalgic stories of the Childs’ life together and Julia’s entry into the cooking world. Much to AP’s surprise, Julia asked them to stay for lunch. She proceeded to cook Chicken Diane for them, as AP took candid shots of Julia in the cooking process. AP said that was the best meal he had ever eaten!
His friends and family will remember him with a camera around his neck, his unique wit, his random historical facts, a love of cooking, Batman and the Three Stooges. We are also left with thousands of slides and pictures that depict a million lifetimes.
AP is survived by his 2 sisters, Mary Ann Gawrys of North Andover and Patricia Lang and her late husband David of TX. 2 nieces, April Swiniuch of Melrose, MA and Melissa Lang of TX, 1 nephew, Christopher Lang and his wife Shelley of TX. A great niece and nephew, Makenzie and Bryson Lang of TX. He was preceded in death by a nephew, Aaron A. Swiniuch.
: His funeral service will be held at the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Disabled American Veterans, State House RM.546, Boston, MA 02133. (www.davma.org).
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