F. Mason Gamage Sr.
Virginia Beach- Franklin Mason Gamage Sr, 93, passed away Sept. 28, 2018.
He was a Norfolk native and a life long resident of the area. Mason grew up sailing and swimming each summer at the family cottage at Ocean View. He graduated Granby High School and was a life guard at Virginia Beach. He was one of the first surfers at the ocean front. In WWII he served on the pilot boat Virginia off Cape Henry in the Coast Guard. He began his career as city planner in Norfolk and later was the Director of Planning for Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach. He was instrumental in the merger of Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach.
After a brief career in commercial real estate, he retired to sail the Chesapeake Bay, the eastern seaboard and the Bahamas on the 42ft. ketch “Intrigue.”
He was a mariner, tennis player and outdoorsman.
He was predeceased by his father Tunstall McCoy Gamage and his mother Erma Rose Gamage, both also of Norfolk.
He is survived by his wife Donna West Gamage, his daughter Stewart Hamilton Gamage of Charlottesville, and his son F. Mason Gamage, Jr. of Norfolk, grandsons Edward Graves Tompkins of Brooklyn, NY and Claiborne Forbes Tompkins of Alexandria, step daughters Alex Nicholson of Greenville, SC and Sunshine Nicholson of Beaufort, SC and a step granddaughter Georgia Vogt, step grandson Mattox Vogt of Greenville, SC, and great grandsons Brooks, Walker and Teddy Tompkins of Brooklyn, NY.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Burial will be private. Donations in his memory can be made to: The Nauticus Foundation, Schooner Virginia- 1 Waterside Dr. Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 664-1000.