Virginia “Ginny” Gray, 85

Hingham, Mass.

Ginny passed away on Jan. 5. She grew up between Boston and Cohasset before settling in Hingham, where she contributed mightily during her long life. In 1971, with her husband and fellow Hingham residents, she founded the Lincoln Sailing Center (now Hingham Maritime Center), where she served for 31 years as executive director, with the mission to make sailing lessons affordable and accessible to all. She was recognized by President Reagan with the People-to-People Sports Committee Recognition Award for outstanding contributions to international friendship, goodwill and understanding through sports.

Ginny was the first woman treasurer, vice president and president of the Yacht Racing Union of Massachusetts Bay (now Mass Bay Sailing), which honored her with the Distinguished Service to Yachting Award in 1976. She served as a US Sailing Judge to the America’s Cup in 1979 and 1983, among many other international, collegiate and local sailing events. She was a former squadron commander of the U.S. Power Squadron of Bare Cove, a member to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a former member of the Cohasset Yacht Club, and a member of the Hingham Yacht Club.