GLOUCESTER: John F. Stanwood, 89, of Gloucester Avenue, died Monday evening, January 25, 2010 in the Addison Gilbert Hospital.
Born in Gloucester on January 12, 1921, he was the son of the late Sidney C. and Anna Josephine (Anderson) Stanwood. He was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and a graduate of the Gloucester High School class of 1939.
A U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he served in China, India and Central Burma. He was the recipient of three bronze stars, a bronze oak leaf cluster and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was honorably discharged at the rank of staff sergeant in October of 1945.
In 1937, he, along with teenagers David Murray, Gil Harvey and Louis Publicover were the recipients of the Lifesaving Award from the Humane Society of Massachusetts, as well as the Boy Scouts of America Gold Medal for saving the lives of three men whose small sailboat had been swamped on the Annisquam Bar.
John was a self-employed lobsterman aboard the “Here We Go” and his most recent boat was the “Rosalie A.” An avid tuna fisherman, in 1941, he, Chandler “Channie” Davis, Scott Webber and Bill Sellew founded the Cape Ann Tuna Tournament, which he won numerous times.
He is survived by his sister, Marjorie L. Walters of Newburyport, brother-in-law, William M. Holmes of Danvers, nieces and nephews, Judith A. Holmes, William M. Holmes, Jr., Marcia W. Ross and Robert S. Walters, II, several grandnieces and grandnephews and dear friends, Brad “Dirt” and Gayle Murray, Chris Young and Greg Marchant. He was also predeceased by his brother, William “Doc” Stanwood, sister, Bernice Holmes and brother-in-law, Robert S. Walters.
His funeral service will be held in the Mt. Adnah Cemetery in the spring at a time to be announced by the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester. There are no visiting hours.