Stapleton Dabney Gooch IV

77, of Tampa, passed away on Tuesday, Sept 27th at his home. He was born Feb 1st, 1939 in Lake Wales, FL and moved to Tampa Bay in 1966. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the History of Architecture from the University of Virginia. He worked for Harry A. MacEwen A.I.A. until starting his own interior design firm, Stapleton Gooch, Inc. in 1974. He was a member of A.S.I.D. and a registered designer with the State of Florida. Stape was one of the founders and first president of the West Coast (FL) Chapter of UVA Alumni Assoc. He was a member of the Tampa Yacht Club, University Club (both Tampa and New York), Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, Biltmore Forest Country Club in NC, and Farmington Country Club in VA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stapleton Dabney Gooch III and Thalia Johnson Gooch; brother, Kent Johnson Gooch. He is survived by his sisters, Thalia (Robbie) Gooch Stoddard, and Lisa (Mark) Gooch Hohmann; nephews: Kent (Laken) Gooch Jr, Billy (Amanda) Koehler, Stuart Early, Derek (Casey) Stoddard; nieces: Dabney Holmes, Claiborne (Chris) Patrick, Deana (Travis) Sumner; and several great nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct 1st at 11am at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 906 S. Orleans Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Music Ministry of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Arrangements handled by Blount & Curry, 813-876-2421.