Obituary: Louis “Capt’n Lou” Gainor

Louis “Capt’n Lou” Gainor
“It was a lovely cruise”
Lou Gainor, of Hull, died Aug. 1 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Capt’n Lou, as he was known, was surrounded by his wife of 51 years, Ellen (Chernov), his son, Brad, his niece, Linda Chernov, and his dog, Gilligan. 
He was born in Quincy, in 1947, to the late Thelma (Yenof) Gainor-Andelman and Burton Gainor. He was the stepson of the late Morris Andelman and brother of the late Milton Gainor. He also leaves his daughter-in-law, Stacey, beloved grandson Sam, stepbrother Joel Andelman and his wife, Linda, stepsister, Jane Lubin, sisters-in-law Cecily Rosenberg and Sandy Forman, and brother-in-law Charles Chernov and his wife Michelle. 
Louis Gainor studied at Northeastern University and Bentley College. He found his first achievements as a real estate entrepreneur.  It was his success in real estate that allowed him to “live the life” on the water, cruising with his wife and son from Boston to Florida for eight consecutive seasons on a 1986 46-foot Bertram with twin 892 Detroit Diesels that he watched the Miami factory build. He was a seasoned captain, boating since age 6. In 1992 Lou was commodore of the Metropolitan Yacht Club, becoming a lifetime trustee and one of its most senior members.  
After real estate came another entrepreneurial achievement: Capt’n Lou on Nautical Talk Radio, broadcast on 95.9 FM WATD. He interviewed celebrity scuba diver Jacques Cousteau, famous boat builders Irwin Jacobs and Reggie Fountain, politicians (state Sen. Bruce Tarr, the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, and Gov. Mitt Romney), and entertainers Billy Joel and Florence Henderson, among others. Capt’n Lou and Nautical Talk Radio received many awards, including MA/RI Associated Press “Best Talk Show,” Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service, American Lighthouse Foundation’s Len Hadley Award, Boston’s Achievement In Radio Best Interview Award, and he was nominated for Boston’s Achievement In Radio Best Produced Public Affairs Program.  
An avid supporter of recreational boating/fishing and the recreational/commercial fishing industries, he was a retired member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, 1980-2005, and was invited in 2012 to participate in the Turning Ceremony of the U.S.S. Constitution. His many other accomplishments included public affairs officer, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, 2001-2004; publicity and media chairman, Quincy Bay Race Week Association, 2000-present; and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council 1996-2000. He was a lifetime member of the Mass. Striped Bass Association, Boat Writers International, South Shore Harbormasters Association, and Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association.  He was proud to serve on the board of directors for South Shore Elder Services.
A graveside ceremony was held in Hull. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of food or flowers, donations can be made to the Scituate Animal Shelter (scituateanimalshelter.org) and/or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).