Winthrop C. “Buzz” Giles, 75, of Sun City Hilton Head, S.C. and Boothbay Harbor, died Aug. 12. Buz was born in Cambridge, Mass on Jan. 13, 1935. In 1950, at the age of 15, he contracted the polio virus. Following a year in Children’s Hospital, including several months in an iron lung, he returned to school, assisted by braces and crutches which he continued to use throughout his life.
Buzz graduated from Browne and Nichols school in Cambridge in 1954, earned his BA degree at Dartmouth College in 1958 and a Masters in Business from Tuck School 1959.
He was employed by John Hancock for 33 years, serving as agent, Brokerage Manager, Director of Marketing for General Agencies, and then became one of the founding team that launched the Hancock mutual fund subsidiary. In the mutual fund operation he served as Marketing Director, Second Vice President, Vice President and retired as Senior Vice President of Marketing.
He was the Charter President of the Medway, Mass. Jaycees, a Trustee of the Belmont Saving Bank and chaired the Trustees of the Southport United Methodist Church.
Buzz and Natalie lived in Belmont, Mass. for 30 years and spent summers in Boothbay Harbor. Upon retirement they moved to Maine and began dividing their time between Maine and Arizona. Finally they settled in South Carolina, enjoying the climate and playing bridge and golf.
He is survived by Natalie his wife of 52 years; children and their families, Preston and Kathy Giles of Richfield, Wis., Dianne and Mark Gimbel of Boothbay Harbor and Winthrop Jr. and Lynn Giles of Eden Prairie, Minn.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial service to celebrate Buzz’s life 11 a.m., Sat., Aug. 21 at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, 1 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor.
Donations in celebration of his life may be made to the Winthrop C. Giles Memorial Fund for the Southport United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 143, Southport, ME 04576.
Condolences to the family may be made at hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, Boothbay.
