Obituary

William E. Gindele

Mon, 03/09/2020 - 12:45pm

William Edward Gindele of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, formerly of East Boothbay and for 44 years loving companion of Carol Buxton of West Boothbay Harbor, died at home on the afternoon of March 6, 2020, just weeks before his 95th birthday.

Bill was born in Poughkeepsie, New York on March 28, 1925 to Josephine Clarkson Gindele and Herbert Gindele. He was graduated from the Peddie School, Highstown, New Jersey, Yale College and Columbia School of Architecture. During his second week at Yale, Bill was drafted into the infantry during World War II and spent in combat in France, ever afterwards suffering from the effects of trench foot from his time in the foxholes of Europe.

He was the father of five daughters, Karen, Victoria, Abagail, Charlotte and Julia Gindele and the grandfather of Martina and Christoph Berger.

After his divorce, Bill moved to East Boothbay and bought the old Masonic Lodge on the Mill Pond and established the “Millpond Company,” manufacturing fine wooden card tables.

With five daughters to educate, he returned to his architectural practice in Poughkeepsie and put the Masonic Lodge on the market. Like so many historic buildings, the lodge was burned down during an arson streak.

Bill designed and built many distinguished and beautiful public buildings and private residences in Dutchess County. His favorite was his own residence across from the N. Millpond in Portsmouth and it was featured on many tours of significant homes in Portsmouth. It was there, surrounded by his loving family, that he quietly left this world after a time of declining health.

Bill was truly a “prince” of a human being – kind, loving and ever gentle. Those who knew him and loved him will never see his likes again.

“Good night sweet prince and flights of angels wing thee to thy rest.”