Obituary: Charles E. Gould

Charles E. Gould, at 91

Charles (“Charlie”) Gould, 91, of Hull passed away on May 11, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Gould was not only a lifelong resident of Hull, but someone who was involved in participating in the function of Hull government so the residents would be served properly.

In 1965, Mr. Gould joined the Hull Redevelopment Authority, where he served as chairman. He was involved with the HRA for 10 years. He was hoping that the land that was acquired would be used for the good of the town and was disappointed that this didn’t happen in his lifetime.

Mr. Gould was a member of Hull Democratic Town Committee and a delegate to numerous Democratic State Conventions, starting in 1955. He sponsored the resolution at town meeting to erect the Korean War memorial, as he had served two tours in Korea and he was appointed chairman of the committee to gather the names of people who had served in Korea to be put on the memorial.

He was a state insurance examiner, which was why he was chosen to help the people in Hull with paperwork on the damage they had suffered after the Blizzard of 1978.

Mr. Gould’s life was never dull, as he shared the speaker’s platform with former Mayor James Michael Curley at a large gathering at Hingham High School and he introduced Senator John F. Kennedy to the people of Hull in the Surf parking lot. Then, in 1962, he served as moderator for a U.S. Senate debate involving Ted Kennedy and Edward McCormack, Jr.

He was chosen to go to Washington, D.C. as a representative for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance to testify about people involved in dubious insurance practices.

He always went to the town meetings, and if there was an issue that he thought needed to be brought to the floor, he would advance it for discussion.

He lived a full life, enjoying the friendship of his girlfriend, Anne Saunders, in later years. He had many nieces and nephews who enjoyed his company as he was a great storyteller. Mr. Gould participated in their lives as they got married and had their own children. He lost his brothers John and Tom, which had been difficult for him as they weren’t that old. Then he lost his sister Anne Marie two years ago.

He leaves his sister Marylyn and her husband, Leo, of Weymouth and Fort Meyers Beach Florida, and his sister Lillian Holzman of Hingham. He also leaves too many nieces and nephews to name who were with him during his time of illness up to the time he died.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, May 16 from 4-7 p.m. at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond St., Hingham. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, May 17 at 11 a.m. at St Ann’s Church, 208 Samoset Ave.,. Burial will follow at Hull Village Cemetery.

For more information and online guestbook, visit www.downingchapel.com.