Dear friends:
A true son of Gloucester has crossed the bar. Gardner Hansen Winchester II, son of Gardner H. Winchester and Nancy (Thurston) Amazeen, died peacefully in the company of his eldest daughter, at 9:20pm Wednesday the Eleventh of November 2020, following a battle with cancer that he was winning. He is survived by his wife Carol (Davison) Winchester, daughters Crystal (Davis) Woodworth her husband Anthony Woodworth, Renee Winchester her fianc? Kevin Hayes, his Sister Holly (Winchester) Amaral, her three children, Cory, Jessica and Joshua as well as his daughters brother Daniel Muise and his three children Dakota, Daniel and Emma. Dakota was, for all tense and purposes, was Gardner?s granddaughter whom he enjoyed showing and sharing the fascination in photography and HAM radio with. Far flung branches of his family were to be found all around New England and he spared no gas to visit.
We must pay respect to the endeavors of the man. He was a Sea Scout, spent time aboard a pocket schooner Truant, Taught Seamanship & Safety as well was Flotilla Cmdr. For the Gloucester Coast Guard Auxiliary. He could tie nearly every knot in Ashley?s from memory. He was active until his last days in Amateur Radio, and boasted European contacts just a couple weeks ago when his daughter Crystal and his best friend and brother Alexander, under his direction set up his 20? antennae. We guyed it into the lawn, and he pointed it in the right aspect and off he went. The air was filled with call signs, there was a contest on, and he joined in impromptu.
Of accolades and awards there?s a list as long as your arm, but let?s remember the man more closely. Gardner could beat you fair in any like rigged sailboat of comparable size. He only ever aspired to 32ft with Jesse Boyce, but he won at least half a dozen races in the Traditional Marconi rig class year after year. He was a stylistic singer of his own tunes and rocked a sea chantey with the best. There was nothing he was doing, which he would not drop to come to the aid of a friend, or even an acquaintance of one. Kindness was his heart; in hopes this would be returned. The lives the man intersected, he improved. No one left an encounter with Gardner but that they were enriched by his humor, his attitude, his forthright manner and keen and far ranging intelligence. He will be dearly missed by many, and the feeling is mutual. Fare well and fair winds Gardi.
Services will be held at the Campbells Funeral home of Cape Ann 61 Middle St Gloucester Ma on Saturday November 21st from 1p-4pm. A funeral via Zoom will be conducted Monday November 23rd at 7pm. A celebration of life will be held next year when we all be together again safely.
