Fund set up after shock death of 35-year-old Suffolk dad

Independent financial adviser and "gentle giant" Gary Gladwell was struck down on April 3, 2022, by a hidden heart condition.

His grieving widow, Louise, described how she frantically tried to revive her dying husband using CPR as an ambulance crew rushed to their home.

She woke at around 6.30am to find Gary making "a very strange sound". "He didn't look alive," she said. The crew took over shortly after, but were unable to save him.

"I was numb and in a state of shock," she said.

Their son, Max, then aged four, was at home as was Gary's two older sons from a previous relationship, Josh, then 12, and Alfie, nine.

"It was very traumatic," she said. "I had to tell them that their dad had passed away. I had to wake them up because the ambulance crew was very loud."

Gary - who worked for Kingsfleet Wealth in Claydon and lived in Elmcroft Road, Ipswich - was enjoying a fulfilled and happy life when tragedy struck. He was a dedicated family man with a sense of humour, said Louise, who has been supported by charity Widowed and Young as she works through the pain of losing her husband at such a young age.

"He was a joker. He was very professional at work but he liked to joke and liked to wind people up - especially me. Football was his passion along with Formula 1."

The sudden loss has also been felt deeply in Gary's workplace. Boss Colin Low said he still expected Gary to walk through the door at work.

"That's hard for all of us as a team to understand," he said. He was a fun presence in the office, but also incredibly knowledgeable - and incredibly difficult to replace, he said. He related to clients "brilliantly".

"He had a deep belly laugh, which was just lovely," he said. "I miss the laugh."

Gary was born in Ipswich and grew up in Holbrook with his parents and sister. He attended Holbrook High and Northgate sixth form and later moved to Shotley. He joined Suffolk Life (now Curtis Bank) before moving to Kingsfleet, which employs nine staff, about four and half years ago.

"I think one of my biggest sadnesses is for him because he was 35 and getting somewhere in life - it's a tragedy," said Louise, who is a compliance supervisor at Kingsfleet.

It turned out Gary had ischemic heart disease and his heart was very enlarged. But he was symptomless and hadn't been to a doctor in years.

"The only thing he complained about was being very tired which now makes sense and that he had a bad back," said Louise.

Gary played football until he was about 31 as well as going running. He was a keen supporter of Ipswich Town Football Club as well as Formula 1, especially Lewis Hamilton. 

The Gary Gladwell Fund is an endowment fund which will support disadvantaged children in Suffolk and is run by the Suffolk Community Foundation. The Kingsfleet team will be taking part in the Orwell Challenge charity walk/run in June to raise funds for it. Visit the Just Giving site for more information.