Danny Gould

The Stephanie Gould Scholarship Fund, c/o Cape Cod Five, P.O. Box 1857, North Eastham, MA 02651, ATTN: Trina Brown, Branch Manager.

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Daniel Charles Gould, 59, of Brewster, MA, unexpectedly passed away on July 10, 2012. Loving husband of Marie C. Gould and beloved father of Stephanie Lee Claire Gould, Dan will be forever cherished by his family and friends. Dan was a kind, caring gentle man. He loved us, loved life and lived with passion.

Dan would, and did, help anyone. He was the doer, the problem solver. If it could be imagined, he would create it. He was an avid reader with interests in technology, horticulture, astronomy, biking, rebuilding pianos, musical instrument construction, painting and boatbuilding.

Dan was born March 1, 1953 in Big Springs, Texas, the son of Maurence H. “Square” Gould and Floyce Lee Gould, while Square was stationed there in the US Air Force. Dan’s first spoken word was “boat.” The family moved back to Cape Cod in the 50s, settling in Orleans. Dan graduated from Nauset HS in 1971. In his youth, Dan worked as a Volkswagen mechanic with his dad in Orleans and enjoyed rebuilding and repairing race cars with Charlie Doane while working at Meservy’s in Chatham.

After studying boat building at the Bath Boat Building School, Dan worked as a shipwright on U.S.S. Constitution. In 1983 he joined the team that built the S.S.S. Spirit of Massachusetts then sailed it to many east coast ports from Nova Scotia to Washington, D.C. One could say that he embodied the soul of that elegant schooner. Later on, he served as the engineer of the Pride of Baltimore in Europe, cruising the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Ocean as a goodwill ambassador from the United States.

While building the Spirit at the old Boston Navy Yard, Dan and fellow crew member Marie Surprenant met. They were married February 16th, 1991 and moved back to the Cape with friends Tony and Robin Davis to take over Arey's Pond boat yard, where Dan was the head boat builder for 20 years.

Dan was a man of boundless curiosity, extraordinary intelligence and deep insight. He pursued knowledge in many fields, finding endless fascination in anything his mind and hands touched. He was a master craftsman, artist and teacher. He not only loved music, but made music with the instruments that he built, then taught others to make them so they could enjoy the act of creation.

When it came to astronomy, he made telescopes and helped others to make them too, so they could view the heavens. He held star parties – inspired by John Dobson of the Sidewalk astronomers in California – where he invited the public to marvel at the universe surrounding them. Dan was also a past president of the Cape Cod Astronomical Society.

Dan loved biking, too. He built bikes and experimented with recumbent designs that he enjoyed riding. He was passionate about alternative energy.

Dan was a woodworker, he loved making furniture and special projects. He just constructed a 19th century sea chest which is now on display for a year at the Nantucket Whaling Museum for a special exhibit on the whaling ship the "Two Brothers."

Dan loved his family. He would always be there for anyone. He loved to cook, he always made his daughter Stephanie's birthday cakes special for each occasion.

Besides his wife and daughter, he leaves his brother, David M. Gould and wife Patty; sister, Katie E. Gould; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Claire Surprenant ; brother-in-law ,Stephen Surprenant; nieces, Jessica A. Gould, Kelly A. Gould, and Christyn K. Surprenant; and nephew, Alex Surprenant

Relative and Friends are invited to attend Dan’s funeral mass on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 in Our Lady of the Cape, 468 Stony Brook Road, Brewster at 11:00 AM. A memorial celebration will also be held on August 4 from 6-9p.m. at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, Garden Terrace, 2173 Route 28, Harwich, MA .In lieu of flowers please send donations to the incredible staff of the Brewster Fire and Rescue, 1657 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631 or anyone you love for that matter! For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com