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Matthew Shane Gurl
Newport, RI – Matthew S. Gurl passed away unexpectedly in Middletown, Rhode Island on
January 7, 2010. He was 43.
Mathew was born on August 9th, 1966 to John T. and Barbara Lachance Gurl in Camp Lejune, N.C. where his father was serving in the Marine Corps. He was raised in Hampton, New Hampshire where he attended local schools. He also spent some of his high school years at Tabor Academy and Maine Central Institute before attending college at the University of New Hampshire and Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Matthew’s passion for sailing and adventure was strong, and early on he became an avid “student of the world”. In 1989, he sailed into Newport, R.I. and called it his home from that time on. He sailed professionally up and down the East Coast, the Caribbean, Europe, South Africa, and South America. He was proud to have been a member of the New York Yacht Club’s Young America team that challenged in the America’s Cup races off New Zealand. In 2003 Matthew suffered a knee injury during an over-night race off New York which caused the end of his sailing career. For the last six years he pursued a variety of business opportunities and entrepreneurial ventures in the Newport area.
Matthew was a charismatic, generous and engaging person who was blessed with many friends near and far. He was never found far from the ocean unless it was to ski, hike, travel – or even sky dive. He lived and experienced more in his 43 years than many do in a lifetime.
In addition to his family he will be greatly missed by his sailing friends n Newport with whom he shared so much time. To you he would say: “Cheers -- no worries”.
Matthew was predeceased his mother, Barbara L. Ferris of Scarborough, Maine, who passed away June 14th, 2009.
He is survived by: his father, John T. Gurl of Kensington, NH, sister Kimberley (Gurl) Swanson and her husband, Eric Swanson, of Scarborough, Me, brother, Shaun Gurl and his wife, Anthea Perkinson of Pelham, NY, a niece, Emma Rose Swanson, and 4 nephews; Andrew Swanson, Aidan Gurl, Liam Gurl and Dylan Gurl, many aunts, uncles and cousins and his beloved golden retriever, Zelda.
A celebration of his life will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at St. Michael’s Church, Corner of Front and Lincoln Streets, Exeter, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Save the Children foundation for the earthquake victims of Haiti at:
SaveTheChildren.org
.
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Service -
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
11:00 am
St. Michael's ChurchCorner of Lincoln & Front StreetExeter, New Hampshire 03833
