Gary cared for boats and about people. Gary was single. He had a friendly dog, but no real family. Yet he treated all his customers and boating friends as if they were his family, because they were. He was always honest, straightforward in his estimates and comments, and never lacked for a wonderful sense of humor. I recall when he discovered some bad rot in the bottom of my 1957 Century Resorter. It was in the spring, and I asked him if he could rig up some kind of temporary fix for the boating season. His direct and succinct answer was: “How well do you swim?” I didn’t have a boat that season, but Gary not only replaced the bottom; he found several faults in previous repairs, replaced numerous weak frames, and made the bottom good as new.

I was introduced to Gary 11 years ago by Wendy Mersman, who had told me he was the best at bringing a 50 year old Century to new life. So I invited him down to Crystal Lake to look at my leaking transom. It didn’t take him 15 minutes to diagnose the problem and show me what had to be done. We ended up with a new transom and all new freeboard planking. In the process, he invited me into his shop, showed me how to use the right tools, and let me work right along with him. I learned a great deal about bung-holing, sanding and roll-and-wipe varnishing. On inspecting my work, his complements were always in line with his droll humor: “It could be worse.” And he always said it in a way that made you love him. One day he was having a problem with some planking. He called and asked me to come take a look. When I arrived I was greeted with: “Your boat doesn’t like me.”

For 5 years, Gary cared for my boat as if it were his own, never shirking a detail, but always complaining about it. What I really enjoyed were our lunches together in Alden or at the Dockside. I learned about his early years working in the auto factories and then coming to Torch Lake and helping people to repair their wood boats, which then became his skilled profession. He told me that there were two kinds of customers: those who paid their bills and those who didn’t until you told them you were going to sell their boat to someone else.

I will miss Gary, his smile, his gentle sense of humor and his enthusiasm for classic wooden boating. I will miss him at our WWC Board meetings, where his thoughtful ideas and careful comments were always right-on, and his sense of humor lifted the meeting. He always stood up for Hagerty when we wanted to get tough in renewing our contract with them. He’d say, “Let’s not forget they are our friends and founder.” I recall our discussion some years ago about inviting classic “plastic” boats to join the Boats on the Boardwalk, and Gary stood to announce: “I just want you to know that I will not be making any plastic plaques this year.”

May God bless Gary and our memories of him and his friendship. I am so glad I was a part of his family. What a lovable guy!

Ned Edwards

Dennis & Michele Spillane are taking care of Gary’s beloved dog, Stanley.  Photos courtesy of the Spillanes.