Charles “Charlie” Joseph McGowan Jr. of Mattapoisett, Mass. and Venice, Fla. died on November 30, 2020, at his home in Mattapoisett surrounded by his loving family at the age of 84, after a nearly twenty-year courageous battle with metastatic prostate cancer.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 60 years Kathleen “Kathy” Flaherty McGowan; daughters Katie Emche (James) of Ocean Pines, Md; daughter Marya Dunham (John) of Mattapoisett, Mass. and Bangladesh; daughter Kerry McNulty (Brian) of Duxbury, Mass.; and daughter Betsy Friedman (Ted) of Barrington, R.I.; nine grandchildren who he adored, Jake (Gabby), Phoebe, Elizabeth, Matthew, Kathleen, Kate, Izzy, Caroline and Addison; sister Anne Boucher of Chelmsford, Mass.; brother Robert McGowan (Sandy) of Mattapoisett, Mass. and Venice, Fla.; sister-in-law Helen McGowan Gardner of Mattapoisett, Mass.; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Charlie was preceded in death by his son Peter McGowan of Mattapoisett, Mass.; brother Paul McGowan of New Bedford, Mass.; sister Susan McGowan of Mattapoisett, Mass.; and brother-in-law Roderick Boucher of Chelmsford, Mass.
Born in New Bedford, Mass., Charlie was one of five children of the late Anna Smith McGowan and Charles Joseph McGowan. As a child, Charlie spent summers with his family in the small coastal community of Mattapoisett. It was there that he developed his love for the ocean and particularly racing beetle cat boats as a young boy on Buzzard’s Bay. Charlie graduated from Coyle High School and received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston College.
Soon after graduating from college, Charlie married Kathleen Flaherty, a young woman whose family also summered in Mattapoisett and with whom he had known since he was a young boy. Charlie and Kathy settled in Mattapoisett and had their first two of five children there. Job opportunities took Charlie, Kathy and their growing family to live in different parts of the east coast over the course of the early years. They lived in Mattapoisett, Mass., Franklin, Mass., Old Saybrook, Conn., Manassas, Va. and Guilford, Conn. For a good portion of Charlie’s career, he worked in contract negotiations for Sikorsky, Electric Boat, and IBM.
In 1968, Charlie and Kathy built a summer home to fit their growing family in Mattapoisett. They built their home at the Cedars Beach in an area where, as children, they both spent their summers close to. From there they helped to create their family’s small tight knit summer community with lifelong friends and neighbors that remain to this day. At their home, Charlie was able to nurture his children’s love of Buzzard’s Bay and anything related to the water: sailing, swimming, digging for quahogs, sitting on the beach, taking walks to Ned’s Point Lighthouse, or just watching the sunset from their front porch.
Unlike so many men of his generation, Charlie’s work career did not define who he was as a man. Life outside of work held much more appeal and excitement. His interests were vast and limitless. He was an avid reader all his life. Charlie enjoyed painting, doing scrimshaw, needlepointing, traveling extensively with Kathy to foreign countries as far reaching as India and Africa, taking up piano lessons in his 40’s, gardening, being a eucharistic minister at church, playing tennis into his late 70’s, sailing any of his various sailboats and cooking for family and friends. He was a true Renaissance man.
Volunteerism was also always an important part of Charlie’s life. Charlie volunteered through various organizations and interfaith ministries over the years; tutoring young elementary aged children, heading up teen youth groups, helping to set up a backpack food program for at risk children to ensure they got food on the weekends, creating “Charlie’s Closet” for individuals to be able to access free medical equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches and was a mentor and confidant to many. In 1999 Charlie was awarded a special Citation of Citizenship from the State of Connecticut for his outstanding work serving the elderly, handicapped, adults in need and the youth in the state.
Charlie had that unique ability to create a lasting impression with people of all ages without needing to be the center of attention. After visiting the McGowan home and hearing a funny story, sharing a meal, being taken to dig for quahogs, going for a swim or a sail with Charlie, friends and family alike would leave feeling as though they had made a deep connection. Charlie’s positive outlook and generous spirit was legendary. His curiosity, sense of humor and adventurous nature was infectious, and he always enjoyed sharing fun experiences with everyone.
More than anything, Charlie enjoyed spending time with his devoted and loving wife of 60 years, Kathy, and their large family at their summer home in Mattapoisett. Having grandchildren was a dream come true for Charlie. He had a whole new crew of young people to share his life experiences and explore with. He was happiest when the entire family was gathered around their ever- expanding dining table to share in a meal. It did not matter what was being eaten, although Charlie’s specialty dishes Clam’s Casino, Quahog Chowder and Clams Aglio e Olio were amazing, it was more about being together for Charlie. Afterwards, as always, he wanted the meal to be polished off with some ice cream! Charlie was a loving, kind, sweet natured man and a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and loyal friend to all. His smile, generosity and humor will be greatly missed by all that were lucky enough to know him.
Due to the current concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will not be a funeral gathering at this time. Per Charlie’s request, there will be a memorial service and big celebration of his amazing life in the summer of 2021.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Charlie’s name to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at https://www.dana-farber.org or to the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation at https://cjdfoundation.org.donate in memory of his late son Peter.
