William Joseph "Skip" Cantwell, Jr., 74, of Birch Lane, Moultonborough, died peacefully surrounded by his family on August 13, 2017, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.
Born on March 10, 1943 in Springfield, MA, Skip was the oldest son of William Joseph Cantwell of Fall River, Massachusetts and Virginia Frost Camp of Springfield, Massachusetts. He spent his earlychildhood years in Winchester, MA, where he attended St. Mary's School. He then moved to Wolfeboro, NH, where he attended Brewster Academy and worked at his parents' marina, The Northeast Marina (currently the Corinthian Yacht Club). Following high school, he attended the University of New
Hampshire and in 1965 he married Noël Stuart Wright, his wife of 52 years. From 1965-1971 he was a member of the NH Army National Guard.
Skip's lifetime was spent near the water: from childhood summers on Lake Massasecum where he got his first boat as a young child, to his family's marina in Wolfeboro, NH where he was talented at a young age at boat engine repair and championship waterskiing, and for the past 50 years on Lake Winnipesaukee where he shared his love for the lake with his wife, children and grandchildren. He held various positions at Lumber Town, E.M. Heath's, and owned his own business, Rural Maintenance for many years until his retirement in 2013. Through his years of experience, he became known as the guy who could fix or build anything, including several houses, car and boat restorations, and the many other projects with which he filled his time. In addition, he was a Lieutenant in the Center Harbor Fire Department, where he volunteered for nearly 30 years.
His retirement years were filled with travelling the U.S. in his motor home, including winters spent in Bonita Springs, FL where he and Noël greatly enjoyed the company and friendship of new and old friends. Wherever he was, he always found a project to dabble with and he loved boating and fishing with his 6 grandchildren who loved him dearly.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Noël; their son, William Joseph "Tripp" Cantwell, III and his wife, Wendi, and their sons, William Joseph "JW" Cantwell, IV, and Timothy Wright Cantwell of New Hampton, NH; their daughter, Audrey LaSpina and her children, Isabella Noël, Mia Grace, Ava Southern and Alexander Sebastian of Arlington MA; his brother, Edward Cantwell and wife Joanie Cantwell of Cocoa, FL; and sister-in-law, Sheryl Cantwell of Athens, GA. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Charles Cantwell, and his infant twin sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 10am on Saturday, August 26 at Mayhew Funeral Home in Meredith, NH. A reception will follow to celebrate his life at Church Landing at Mills Falls.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Center Harbor Firefighter's Association, P.O. Box 222, Center Harbor, NH 03226.