Obituary: James K. Goodwin

James K. Goodwin, at 74
Captain James K. Goodwin, born in 1944 with salt water running through his veins, was a Hull native who resided on Allerton Hill his entire life. He died Feb. 22 at the age of 74.
After graduating with Hull High School’s class of 1963, Mr. Goodwin spent summers as a mechanic at Paragon Park. Most memorably, he performed the safety checks on the park’s famous roller coaster, which included walking and greasing the track from beginning to end. He also spent time as a train mechanic for Amtrak at Boston’s South Station.  
Although Mr. Goodwin could fix all things mechanical, he was first and foremost a man of the sea. He worked on several local fishing vessels before commanding his own lobster boat, the F/V Rachel G., which he named after his wife and life partner. 
In the late 1980s, Mr. Goodwin obtained his plumbing license, for a backup career to fishing, and worked for his oldest son at R-Chee Plumbing. Plumbing became his primary career for several years, before he returned to his true passion as a merchant marine sea captain, working on research vessels for his younger son at Goodwin Marine Services.
In addition to being a man of sea and a talented mechanic, Mr. Goodwin was an avid gardener, an animal lover, builder of boats, and lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox.  
Above all, he was a cherished, revered, and proud family man. He is survived by his wife, Rachel Goodwin; his children and their spouses, Jeffrey and Jennifer Millen, Debbie and James Shepherd, Amy Millen, captains Joshua Goodwin and Brooke Johnston, Jennifer and Ian McLarnon; his siblings and their spouses, Jane and James Ferrigno, George and Linda Goodwin, and Anne and Joseph Boucher; his grandchildren, Jonathan and Jake Millen, Kelsey and Paul Banter, Ashley, Zachery and Dylan Shepherd, Samantha, Ryan, Brooke and Maddie Connolly, Justin and Jamie Goodwin, and Kevin Marino; and great-grandson Brayden Shepherd.
Services will be held on the R/V James K. Goodwin, date and time to be determined. Memorial donations may be made to NVNA and Hospice, online at www.nvna.org/nvna-and-hospice-charitable-fund/.