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Looking Back: Discovering My Grandfather’s Hidden Profession
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marcus Garvey
A few years ago, I became curious about my family’s history and decided to dig deeper through Ancestry.com. My father had shared stories of my grandfather, mostly about how he owned a garage and worked as a mechanic—skills that seemed to align with the hands-on nature of plumbing.
However, what I discovered surprised even my father. My grandfather, Thomas Gauntlett, was listed as a pipe fitter in his early twenties—a profession deeply tied to the plumbing industry. This revelation gave me a new appreciation for the craftsmanship that runs in our family.
One of the stories I recall was that my grandfather always had work, which now makes sense—he was part of the booming steam heating industry, a major contributor to community infrastructure at the time.
Skipping a Generation: A Legacy in Plumbing
“Sometimes you don’t realize the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
Family history has a way of revealing unexpected connections. Recently, I had the chance to talk to my father, Gordon Thomas Gauntlett Sr., about our ancestry. To our surprise, even he didn’t know the extent of my grandfather’s involvement in plumbing.
This conversation made me reflect on my own path. As a child, I was naturally drawn to hands-on projects—taking apart mechanical machines, building go-karts, and fixing my bike. As I got older, my projects became more complex, like helping my mother rebuild our deck. These early experiences unknowingly shaped the very skills I would later use in my plumbing career.
“When I was a young boy taking apart mechanical machines and finding out how they worked, or building go-karts and working on my bike, or as I grew, helping my mother around the house by tearing apart the rotten deck to re build it these very complex things to some seemed to come naturally to me.”
The Question That Always Made Clients Laugh
When I became an apprentice, clients would often ask:
“How did you get into plumbing?”
My response?
“Well, my father is actually a salesman!”
They would always be taken aback by this, chuckling at the unexpected response. Most large plumbing companies in America are passed down through generations, but in my case, the profession had skipped a generation.
Only later did I understand why people asked me this. In plumbing, support and excellence are deeply rooted values, often passed from parent to child. While my father wasn’t a plumber, he always supported my journey into the trade—an encouragement that played a huge role in my success.
Born to Be a Plumber
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
Some people are just born for what they do. Watching a golf commercial of professionals who started swinging clubs at age two reminds me of my own journey. Mastering the basics early on sets the foundation for lifelong expertise—whether in sports or plumbing.
For me, plumbing is more than just a profession; it’s a family legacy. I don’t know if my son, Gage Thomas Gauntlett, will follow in my footsteps, but I do know that since he was three years old, he’s been asking me:
“Can we go build something?”
That curiosity and drive remind me of myself at his age. Whether or not he chooses the plumbing trade, I know his great-grandfather would be proud of the skills and values being passed down through our family.
Conclusion: Finding Our Path
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
I firmly believe that we are all born for something—whether it’s plumbing, engineering, teaching, or any other craft. However, the journey to discovering our passion is what makes our story unique.
For me, plumbing was both a calling and a legacy. While my path to this trade took an unconventional route, the core values of hard work, precision, and dedication have always been present in my family.
As I continue to uphold these principles, I hope to pass them on—not just to my son, but to the next generation of tradespeople who will keep this tradition of excellence alive.
