Geraldine E. Gamburd

Geraldine E. (DeNering) Gamburd, age 87, of Portland, OR, formerly New Bedford, MA and Westport, MA, died Thursday, September 11, 2014 at the Oregon Health Science University Hospital in Portland, OR after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Samuel Gamburd with whom she shared 39 years of marriage.

Geraldine was born and raised in Sodus, NY, a daughter of the late Abraham and Josie (Van Kouwenberg) DeNering. She attended high school in Marion, NY, received her BA from the University of Rochester, her MA from the University of Michigan and her PhD from Columbia University.

Dr. Gamburd was a Professor of Anthropology at UMass – Dartmouth for 31 years, retiring in 2001. In addition to being a member of the American Anthropological Association and the American Institute for Sri Lanka Studies, she enjoyed yoga and swimming, loved music and travel, played a competitive game of Scrabble and was an avid baseball fan of both the Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners.

She is survived by her daughter Michele R. Gamburd of Portland, OR and many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Cornelia M. Murphy, Christine Colvard and Katherine DeNering.

Celebrations of her Life will take place on October 18, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Gooseberry Island Beach followed by a reception at 3:30 pm at 8 Winghaven Lane, Westport, MA, 02790 and on October 20, 2014 at 2:00 pm on the pool deck and beach at Ocean Club North, 4821 Saxon Drive, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169. Please contact Michele at [email protected] for details. Family and friends are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the UMass Dartmouth Foundation - Geraldine Gamburd Memorial Scholarship, Advancement Office, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747, or may be made online at http://www1.umassd.edu/institutional_advancement/foundation/onlinedonation/. (On the second page of the donation form, choose the Geraldine Gamburd Memorial Scholarship from the drop-down menu.)

Visit www.waring-sullivan.com for details and tributes.