Alexander Newton Gish III, 73, passed away March 19, 2020. Alex was born in 1946 in Little Rock Arkansas to Alexander Newton Gish, Jr. and Dixie Gish (nee Hanby). He grew up in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania with his father and step mother Elizabeth (Dolly) Gish. Following graduation from Council Rock High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After four years in the Navy (1965-1969), including a tour of Vietnam, Alex cashed in his G.I. Bill at Whittenburg University, graduating with a degree in physics and teaching. Following a stint as a science teacher in Searsport Maine, Alex's hobby for radios turned professional when he took a job as a Radio Electronics Officer. He spent 18 years in the U.S. Merchant Marine, traveling the world including Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, South America and the Caribbean.
Alex met Paula, his wife of 38 years, in Easton, Maryland, where they were married in September 1981. A man who didn't fit any mold, Alex's passions included clock and pocket watch repair, ham radio (WB1GNL), Nascar, classical music, satellite dishes, bow ties, Crumpton auction, pinot grigio, vegetable gardening, astronomy, hot dogs, Oriental rugs, and historic farmhouses of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Alex is survived by his wife Paula Gish (nee Pabst), sons Dylan and Casey, daughter-in-law Brooke Usrey, grandbaby to be, brother James Gish (Carol) and Sister Gail Mohsenian (Javad) and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, Alex's family requests donations be made to one of his favorite organizations, the Animal Care Shelter of Kent County, Maryland. Donations can be made at www.kenthumane.org.
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Kent County News on Apr. 14, 2020.
Michael Royack
Rest in Peace Alex!
Richard (Rick) Search
We had a lot of fun in our years together at Council Rock. We shared some great memories. Peace, my friend.
Ray Dolton
Fortunate to have had a interesting convesation with Alex at our last Reunion. A funny and very talented guy. Rest in Peace my friend.
David Williams
Now is the Winter of our discontent. I suffered through English lit in college and it seems like an apt observation. As if Covid and political mania - not to mention a cold, bleak Illinois day – were insufficient reasons for the blues now comes information Alex died. Another Newtown guy I’ve known since … well, you pick the simile. I liked Al, I liked him a lot since he was always upbeat and possessed of a quirky wit. I was unable to make the reunion and his picture answers the question of what became of his cowlick. Come on, you gotta remember he wore his hair short and had that twirl just above his forehead. Known by a lot of us as Newt after his middle name, Al had a gearhead-related nickname for me and I a ham radio-related nickname for him. Don’t ask.
Al responded to one of my posts about old friends. I think it was Robin Hunt’s. We shared emails and since I made my career as a VA clinician he asked a few questions and discussed his journey trough the system. Geriatrics was my specialty; I saw medical not psychiatric patients. Ironically, I assessed cognition and I’m having difficulty recalling some of his story. With that proviso this is more or less what Al related. He enlisted in the Navy right after graduation. He served a year in Vietnam on a riverboat where he had sustained, daily agent orange exposure. AO eventually caught up and earned him a 100% service-connected disability rating for cancer. I’m pretty certain it was prostate since Al related the oncologist’s approach was watchful waiting and prediction he’d die with and not from his cancer.
I was hoping one day to inquire if his ship ever faced anything like Somali pirates but I guess that isn’t to be.
For the English majors: I know the soliloquy was actually about good times being on their way. I just couldn’t come up with anything better.
Pam Camilla (Rook)
ALEX LIVED IN NEWTOWN DOWN THE STREET FROM ME I REMEMBER ELAINE HIRSCH AND I WERE RIDING AROUND AND ALEX WAS IN HIS NAVY UNIFORM HITCHHIKING ON RT.413 SO WE STOP AND PICKED HIM UP HE WAS JUST GETTING HOME I THINK FROM VIETNAM IT WAS AROUND 1967 WE HAD A GREAT TALK WITH HIM. HE WAS AN INTERESTING GUY AND VERY TALENTED AND ALWAYS MADE YOU LAUGH. REST IN PEACE ALEX. PAM CAMILLA ROOK.
Craig Ogelby
Very sorry to learn about Alex's passing. Even at an early age, he had an amazing understanding of electronics. During high school, I would visit him on Saturdays as he built accessories for his ham radio station. Very easy going and a friend to all. Known as "Newt" to his close friends. It was wonderful to touch base with him during the reunion. Rest in peace my friend.