Charles “Charlie” Godwin died at his home October 18 after a brief illness at the age of 84. Charlie and his wife Margaret “Peggy” Godwin ran the Godwin Gallery in Pepperell from its inception in 1978. The gallery specializes in Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century American paintings.

Charlie, a veteran of World War II and a graduate of Cornell University, was an electrical engineer, having worked in the industry for General Electric and the Mitre Corporation. His true love, however, was fine art and in 1978 he gave up the field of electrical engineering to devote his time to his lifelong love of art. Charlie had long been interested in working in the field of art, but earlier in life was not able to pursue this interest due to the financial constraints of family life. Unknown to many, he was to study art before making it his profession and would enjoy painting and playing the piano for many years. He was also passionately concerned about his community and would serve for 15 years on the Pepperell Conservation Commission.

To his great credit, Charlie was beloved and respected at all levels of the art market for almost three decades would help many collectors to build collections of distinction. The particular interests he so ardently shared with Peggy would result in the early identification and research into such regional artists as Benjamin Champney, C.E.L. Green, S.L. Gerry and William Preston Phelps among others. Due to the extensive research Charlie and Peggy devoted to these and many additional artists, collectors have since become more aware of this body of early work and this work has grown in both recognition and value.

Charlie truly loved and related to art and was able to impart his enthusiasm to others. His impeccably, honesty, friendliness and wry wit were legendary among his peers and will be sorely missed. I will particularly miss his comments made during auctions, where I was delighted by his insightful and frequently humorous commentary on the arcane business of art.

Having met Charlie early in my career, it is to both Charlie and Peggy that I owe my early start in the art business. Their tutelage and kindness helped to foster my own love for the world of Nineteenth Century American art and in later years I was fortunate to have spent many hours in car with Charlie as we searched New England for paintings. He and I were particularly interested in William Preston Phelps and spent many an hour chasing down that then-illusive artist across the wilds of New Hampshire. Charlie will be sorely missed and remembered with the greatest respect and admiration by his friends and colleagues.

In addition to his wife, Charlie leaves two sons, John F. and Joseph L., as well as a daughter Rachel Shapiro, his sister Dorothy and six grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the Nashoba Conservation Trust, PO Box 188, Pepperell, MA 01463 or the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 36 Merrimack Street, Building 9, Lawrence, MA 01843.

Karl Gabosh