Gerard Joseph Kinahan

Gerry was born on Christmas Day in Boston, Massachusetts to Adelina and William Kinahan. He grew up in Roslindale where his mother was a homemaker and his father worked in the broadcasting industry.

Gerry would tell his parents that he was "the best thing that ever happened to them." And he was right!

At age 11, his entire family was involved in a car accident - luckily, everyone lived, but his mother lost her eyesight, and Gerry, as the oldest of four, had to take on more responsibilities around the house, including looking after his three younger siblings - one brother, and two sisters. Through this he developed independence, courage, self discipline, and grit.

He attended Boston Latin School where he formed lifelong friendships. He then attended Boston College as a day student - living at home, stocking shelves at the grocery store overnight, and driving a beat-up car or riding his bicycle to get to class. One day, he noticed a fancy car (a Jaguar) parked in a neighbor's driveway and wondered, “how did he get such a cool car?! What does he do for a living? How do I get a car like that?” As it turns out, his neighbor was a dentist, and now, Gerry aspired to be a dentist too, so he could get his own cool car.

Gerry attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he made more lifelong friendships, learned the art of dentistry, and played a starring role in the straight-to-VHS hit movie ‘The Dental Zone’. During this time he continued to live at home, traveling to his classes the same way: driving a beat-up car or riding his bike. He graduated with a Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree in 1982. Gerry built model ships as a boy which he credits for helping him with the small, precise work of dentistry.

Gerry's first foray into the professional world was performing dentistry at a New Hampshire prison. He wanted to open a practice near Boston with his friend Walter Stone, but unfortunately, they could not secure a loan. So, Gerry took to the papers to seek out other employment opportunities.

He noticed a job listing in North Truro. He had camped on the Cape before, but had never been to North Truro. So he got in his small Toyota and started to drive. After a while, feeling a bit lost, he pulled into Truro Center to ask for directions. “Keep going, you're almost there” someone told him - and he did. Eventually, he reached his final destination: North Truro. This was the place where he would realize many of his lifelong dreams, like opening his own dental practice, raising three children, and, perhaps most importantly, parking not one, but three sports cars in his driveway!

As Gerry settled into life in North Truro he felt more and more that he had found his people and his place in the world. He first worked for a dentist in Yarmouth - who he irritated greatly by wearing a Christmas tree ornament as an earring to a holiday party (intentionally, of course.) In 1987 he bought a house on Shore road and could finally open his own dental practice, which he ran successfully for 39 years until retiring in 2022.

Initially, he set up shop on the first floor and later moved his office to a newly constructed addition to make more space in the house for his family. He treated his patients as friends, with respect and compassion, keeping them laughing with his quick wit and twisted sense of humor. He provided affordable, quality dental care to individuals without health insurance or money by accepting goods and services for payment instead of cash. Sometimes, he would even perform dental work pro-bono. He was a true community dentist who cared about people and understood first hand the challenges life can bring, and the rewards that come from helping others.

Through his work, Gerry became deeply integrated with the community and formed many wonderful friendships with people from all over Cape Cod.

Gerry also loved music. When he wasn't working or juggling his three children, you could usually find him honing his skills on the 6-string or bass guitar. Had he not been so practical, or enamored as a youth with his neighbor’s sports car, he most certainly would have been a career musician. For years he hosted weekly jam nights in his attic - on Wednesday nights his children would regularly fall asleep to the sounds of him and his friends belting out "Lola" by the Kinks, or "Psycho Killer" by the Talking Heads. He achieved peak rockstar status when he recorded two original albums, Live @ the Dentist and Agents of Change with his band, Freeze Bone. His attic jam sessions brought in people from all over the Cape; some of whom he played with for decades and most of whom became lifelong friends.

Gerry became an avid traveler as soon as he could afford his first trip out of the country in his twenties. He had a great sense of adventure which would take him on countless adventures in Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. His children accompanied him on many of these trips while they were still in diapers. His easy going and personable nature made him friends around the world.

He loved to play soccer, go to the beach, enjoy a meal at Liz’s Cafe, watch “Doctor Who,” and read books. At Liz's, there is a seat at the bar with his name on it for anyone who would like to join him for a drink or a blueberry pancake and some hash.

He served as a cub scout leader, elementary school soccer coach, a member of the Truro Elementary School Board, the Beach Commission, and was an annual sponsor of Truro Treasures weekend. He could find common ground with anyone, often connecting with people on obscure topics.

Gerry was a kind man with a generous spirit who was passionate about his community, his family, his friends, and his hobbies. He took care of the people he knew well and the people he knew not so well.

His last days were spent peacefully at home surrounded by friends and family, relishing in delightful memories of a wonderful life, lived unapologetically. He was, and will always be, loved by many.

He is survived by his siblings, Susan Kane, Patricia Kinahan-Smith, and Michael Kinahan, his children Lucie Butler (Jeremiah), Ian, and his partner Samantha Drown, Bridget and her Fiancé John Carney, his grandchildren Owen and Sophie, and his beloved cat Wilson. He left too many close friends to list here. Each friendship was beautiful and unique.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 19, 2025 from 2:00PM - 6:00 PM at Liz's Cafe Anybody's Bar, 31 Bradford St, Provincetown, MA 02657.