Obituary of Jerome M. Powell

Jerome M. Powell,  96

Jerome M. Powell of Duxbury, 96, died peacefully on Thursday, October 17.  He was born March 20, 1923 to Ada D. Powell and John M. Powell in Newton, Massachusetts.

He grew up in Newton and attended Phillips Exeter Academy and graduated college from the University of Michigan with an Actuarial Sciences degree which contributed to his becoming president of the Loyal Protective Life Insurance Co., in Boston.  He served honorably in the Army Air Corps, now the US Air Force, in World War II.

Jerry, as he was known to all friends, lived many years in Wellesley, Needham, Kingston and most recently in Duxbury.  He and his late wife Gertrude (Doo as friends knew her), volunteered considerable time and resources in charities and public service in all the towns in which they lived.  As a family they raised their three sons to become avid sailors with an appreciation of the wind, water and marine elements as well as many skiing trips to their favorite ski club in Woodstock, VT.

He skippered and was summer class champion in almost every local class of sailboats—from Duxbury Ducks, Pioneers and Highlanders to Marshall 15s.  He raced into his 90s, winning the Duxbury Yacht Club’s Old Timers Race many times and was given special recognition for being the oldest competitive sailor in the history of the club.  His sons joke together that they learned everything about sailing from their father.

Jerry is survived by his sons, Gary Powell of Duxbury; John and his wife Starr Powell of Fort Mill, SC; and Scott and his wife Faith Powell and their daughter, Mariel Powell, of Lighthouse Point, FL.  He is also survived by his sister, Anita Olson of Needham.

A memorial service will be held at the Pilgrim Church in Duxbury on Saturday, Nov. 2nd at 11:00.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Pilgrim Church of Duxbury; Pilgrim Society, 75 Court St. Plymouth MA 02360; Duxbury Rural and Historical Society, PO Box 2865, Duxbury, MA; or  the Duxbury Bay Maritime School, PO Box 263A, Duxbury, MA  02331.