Sydney Hinkle Buffum

Sydney Hinkle Buffum passed away peacefully at the age of 94 in her home on Manasota Key in the loving care of family and friends.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she attended Miss Hall's School and Smith College, and enjoyed many summers in Osterville on Cape Cod where she gained a lifelong love of sailing. She was married to Robert C Buffum in 1952 and she cherished their relationship until his death in 2011. The couple set about developing a joint career in hospitality culminating in the ownership and management of two highly successful resorts, the Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, Rhode Island and the Manasota Beach Club in Englewood, Florida.

No mention of Syd would be complete without a log of her sailing accomplishments. From racing a Wianno Senior off Cape Cod, to Sunfish on Quonnie Pond to 1,500 mile treks on various multihull craft, she plied the waters from Florida's West Coast to the shores of New England. She and her husband Bob loved, as Kenneth Grame put it, simply messing around in boats. Whether it was around the buoys, on the tennis courts or the lawn playing croquet, her teammates and opponents witnessed the full force of her skill, competitive spirit and gracious sportsmanship. There was also a love of reading and Syd's weekend always involved the NY Times Sunday crossword.

Syd was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is survived by her daughter, Sydney B. Crampton of Englewood, Florida, her son Robert C. Buffum, Jr. and his wife Linda of Dedham, MA and her son James C. Buffum and his wife DeeDee of Weekapaug, Rhode Island, grandchildren Elizabeth Jenkins, Alexa Buffum, Todd Buffum, Sarah Locklear, Morgan Buffum and Ashlyn Buffum and seven great grandchildren. Syd is also survived by her brother James Hinkle and his husband Roy Hammer of Barnstable, Massachusetts and her sisters-in-law, Sally Hinkle of Boston, Massachusetts and Jane Buffum of Avondale, Rhode Island.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Friday, July 12th at the Weekapaug Chapel and Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, November 16th at the Manasota Beach Club, Englewood, Florida.

Donations in Syd's memory may be made to the Mystic Seaport Museum's Wells Boat Hall, which houses the Hinkle family's Wianno Senior, the Lemon Bay Conservancy or the Weekapaug Chapel Society.