Jack Goins, shaped Cape State Park
Jack Goins, who passed away just before his 80th birthday, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, moved to Delaware from his home state of Ohio to be nearer the ocean. Jack brought his boundless energy to help shape the newly formed Cape Henlopen State Park through his love of people, music, history and the outdoors.
Jack was born into a family whose vaudeville roots were reflected in his love of music and the theater. He began professionally singing at the age of 7 in a local choir. His love for music never dimmed and later, after college, he won leading roles in off Broadway productions of musicals like “Kismet,” where he was known for his rich tenor voice. However, it was his talent as an athlete that won him a scholarship to Akron University where he played basketball.
Perhaps, though, it was his time in the Navy that had the greatest impact on the direction of his life. He had his first encounter with the sea and he traveled the world. He worked as a photographer and electronic warfare technician on a P-3 Orion sub-hunter at Guantanamo Bay and met the love of his life, Elizabeth Hunter Rawls, in Virginia Beach.
Jack began his work in Ohio as superintendent of West Branch State Park in Ravenna. Jack and his young bride settled into their new life for a few years. Then an opportunity appeared for a position in Delaware, close to the ocean, and Jack accepted. The Delaware Parks were newly formed, and Jack brought with him much of the knowledge he had learned within the Ohio state parks. He also brought with him a love of history and nature.
Jack loved to explore antique shops and old houses. He was forever dragging home items, much to the dismay of Hunter, salvaged from buildings prior to demolition: fireplace mantels, airplane propellers, dentist cabinets, and other miscellaneous tools and hardware. He even dug out several Howard Schroeder paintings from the Lewes town dump which now belong to the Fort Miles Historical Association.
He developed a passion for volleyball which he played for a number of years in the sand at Deauville Beach in Rehoboth. The games would last all afternoon. While the men would compete, their families would relax in the sun and play in the waves until the evening cookout which could last well into the night.
In retirement, Jack stayed connected to his passion. He worked as a freelance photographer for Delaware State Parks, where he captured some amazing images of Delaware's natural beauty for park brochures and advertisements. He served on the Fort Miles Historical Association board where he enjoyed helping to bring the history of Fort Miles to the public. He also finally had the time to learn some new things, and he took up the culinary arts with his usual enthusiasm so he could make homemade focaccia for his children and grandchildren.
Jack is survived by his wife, Hunter Goins; his children Elizabeth Goins (Adam Herdzik), Sarah Frost (Robert Mandes) and Clinton Goins; his grandchildren Calvin, Maximilian and Lilly Mandes; and his older sister Barbara Long and her children.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, March 3, at St. George’s Chapel, 20274 Beaver Dam Road, Harbeson. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Jack’s memory to the Fort Miles Historical Association, 120 E. Wild Rabbit Run, Lewes, DE 19958.
Please visit Mr. Goins's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
