Gordon L. Benjamin, Jr

Gordon Lyon Benjamin, Jr., 80, of Portsmouth, RI passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 11, 2007. He was the loving husband of Robbie Murphy Benjamin.Born in Hollywood, California on May 3, 1927, he was the oldest son of the late Gordon L. and Margareta Carlson Benjamin.Gordon grew up in the Riverside, CT area and graduated from the Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT in 1945. Immediately upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the USNR World War II and served as an Instrument Specialist and Aviation Mechanic. After the war ended, he entered Clarkson College in Potsdam, NY and graduated in 1951 with a BSME in Mechanical-Industrial Engineering. In the first decade after college, Gordon worked in management, supervision and product development at the following companies: Chesebrough Manufacturing Co. in McKees Rock, PA 1951-54, Taco Heaters, Inc. in Cranston, RI 1954-58 and General Fittings Co. in East Greenwich, RI 1958-62. In 1962, he started his career as a successful entrepreneur when he founded Warren Electric Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial electric immersion heaters in Warren, RI. During the last 45 years, the company has grown significantly and is still manufacturing in a large facility in Warren. An avid competitor and yachtsman, Gordon developed a passion for sailing and racing early in his life. While in college, he taught sailing at the Rocky Point Beach Club in Old Greenwich, CT, where his junior team won the Long Island Championship. Well-known for his sailing expertise, he raced on numerous yachts including ?Nina?, a schooner owned by New York Yacht Club Commodore DeCoursey Fales. Gordon won the New England Championship for the Shields sailing class numerous times and was the Shields National Champion in 1976. He and his wife, Robbie, also owned, raced, and cruised numerous boats including ?Fledermaus? and ?Bara Pengar?. Gordon was also involved in the initial development of the Barrington Yacht Club junior sailing program and he was an active member of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, the New York Yacht Club and the Goat Island Yacht Club.Just as he initiated many into the sport of sailing, Gordon shared his passion for skiing with friends and family at his mountain retreat, ?Instant House? in North Woodstock, NH near Loon and Cannon Mountains.Affectionately known as ?GLB?, Gordon was happiest when engaged in activities with his family and friends. His spontaneity and sense of adventure were contagious and he loved hosting parties at his home with wife, Robbie. He adhered to the philosophy that if it was worth doing, it was worth doing well today, whether it was work or play. Even in his declining health, Robbie and Gordon traveled extensively, visiting his ancestors? beloved Sweden, traveling through Europe, and cruising the Mediterranean. He spent part of his last weekend on Aquidneck Island surveying the Tall Ships in Newport Harbor this summer.In addition to Robbie, his wife of 22 years, Gordon is survived by three sons and a daughter: Gordon L. Benjamin III of Newport RI and grandchildren Leah and Nathan; his son and daughter-in-law, David C. and Andrea Benjamin of Windermere FL and granddaughters Kayli, Ashley, and Courtney; his son and daughter-in-law, Lawrence S. and Margaret Benjamin of Lake Forest, IL and granddaughters Kallan, Shelby, and Piper; and daughter and son-in-law, Mary B. Edward A. Wray of Portsmouth, RI and grandsons, Connor and Tucker. Gordon?s brother and sister-in-law, Charles L. and Amanda Benjamin of Vero Beach, FL also survive him, as well as several nephews and nieces. He is also survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Fan Castleman Benjamin of Barrington, RI.Celebration of his life service to which relatives and friends are invited will be Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 10 AM at the Connors Funeral Home, Portsmouth, RI. Calling hours, Wednesday, August 15, 2007 from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Funeral Home. Burial will be private.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the ?GLB ILYC Junior Sailing Fund?, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Wellington Ave., PO Box 479, Newport, RI 02840.