Employee Spotlight

"Life’s a performance, friend; it’s not bookkeeping. And it takes a lot of rehearsing for a man to learn to be himself."—James Cagney

by Ken Davis

Maybe it was the lore of the stage that first drew him — that irresistible urge that comes over a select few and guides them into the spotlight.

Maybe it was the desire to please — to take his gifts and put them to use entertaining an audience.

Or maybe it was just in his blood.

For whatever reason, Co-op Catering Director Lloyd Gabourel knew from an early age that there was one thing he was always going to do: perform.

"I have hundreds of plays and performances under my belt," Lloyd explains. "I guess I’ve done a little bit of everything."

Taking a break from a typical day of filling orders and handling catering calls, Lloyd sits back in his chair and smiles, reflecting on a lifetime of performance arts with the humility and humor for which he is known. But whether it’s singing or dancing, acting or directing, the soft-spoken husband and father still says he prefers family over fortune and fame.

"I’ve had a small taste of what fame is like," Lloyd says, "and I say, ‘No thank you.’ You can keep it; it’s just not who I am."

Child Star
Lloyd was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, 20 miles south of Boston. From an early age, he developed a penchant for both the performance and culinary arts. His father was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, entertaining audiences with a combination of comedy, acting, and athleticism throughout the 1940s. Lloyd’s uncles were professional chefs, and his home was full of the scents of fine foods.

Lloyd’s performance talents soon took center stage. He began singing and dancing, both in school and church productions.

"The teacher would pull me away from the class, take me to the front of the room, and ask me to sing," Lloyd explains with a laugh. "I guess I got used to it."

During his childhood, Lloyd’s family moved to the Upper Valley. He continued performing, and grew up singing, dancing, and acting in school and church productions.

After studying theatre in college, Lloyd’s performance career took off. His post-college work included modeling, directing, and choreography, with performances that took him from New York to Los Angeles and nearly every major city in between.

But there was something missing: job security, and the opportunity to settle down and raise a family. Lloyd decided the hectic schedule wasn’t worth it, and he settled down with his wife and two children in the Upper Valley.

"Even though I was away a lot while performing and in college, I’ve considered this area my home for more than 30 years," Lloyd says. "I knew this was the place to raise my children."

Still a Showman
Lloyd’s lifelong appreciation for fine foods brought him to the Co-op in 1997. And though he no longer travels the nation as a singer and model, Lloyd continues to perform.

He currently serves as the founding member, lead singer, and director for the Upper Valley Praise and Worship Team, and also sings for weddings, anniversaries, and special events. He says he’s happy to keep the bulk of his performance schedule confined to the Upper Valley, where his family takes priority over fame.

"I opted for a wife and children," Lloyd explains, "and I don’t regret it for a minute."