Cheryl W. Gemborys

1949 - 2012

SOUTHPORT, Maine - Former South Deerfield resident, Cheryl W. Gemborys, 63, of Southport, died Nov. 10, 2012, after a long series of coronary-related problems that weakened her heart. She was the daughter of Bradbury and Edith Webber of Wayland, MA.
She was born in Greenville, S.C., in 1949 and brought to New England, where she was put aboard her grandfather's yacht in Boothbay Harbor, ME, before she could even walk and a lifelong love affair with the region had begun.
She had to leave high school to take care of her sick parents, but earned her GED. At her graduation from Mt. Wachusett Comm. College in Gardner, MA, in 1983, she was the recipient of the Dean's Key. She graduated from Smith as an Ada Comstock Scholar in 1986, majoring in Govt. and Political Studies. She astounded her professors by predicting the collapse of the Soviet Union a full year before it happened. Next came a Masters in Education Program at the UMass Amherst Campus. She then became a Chapter 1 teacher in Deerfield and Colrain, MA.
Upon her grandparents passing, she was drawn into the philanthropy efforts of her grandparents, F. Roscoe and Vila Webber Charitable Trust, first as a consultant and then trustee. Living at the house her grandparents built on Southport Island, she sought out and wrote grants for non-profits to remain open and be able to continue providing their services to Mainers. She was a ME Notary, Board Member of the Friends of the Southport, ME, Library, a Marine Animal Condition Evaluation Field Supervisor for ME Marine Animal Lifeline and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 25 Station Boothbay Harbor, ME.
Cheryl supported laws that empowered women to stand on their own. She counseled and helped many women leave abusive relationships and return to educational goals they had put aside. She was able to influence and help many women to gain back their independence with a career of their own choice in her dual roles as both Christian Reverend and Wiccan High Priestess. She was also in supervisory positions for the World Community Forum and Active Worlds.
She made her home a Cocker Spaniel Rescue Site and the cove next to her Maine house a Protected Waterfowl Area. She was a patron/supporter of many animal rights and environmental groups. She loved music and playing her Steinway Baby Grand, giving Lighthouse tours to friends and family from her 26 ft. Bayliner, knitting and reading The Wall St. Journal's top 10 list of best sellers and interacting with her parrots.
What she loved most, however, was being invited into her busy children's New England homes to celebrate special occasions and holidays, get caught up on everyone's news and share a meal together.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Paul, a retired Chapter 1 teacher; one daughter, Katheryne S. C. Lane of E. Lebanon, ME, head of Adult Integrated Medicine at York Hospital in York, ME; two sons, Eric A. Gemborys of Barre, MA, Senior Forestry Supervisor for National Grid (Central MA Region) and U.S.C.G. (CW02) Matthew B. Gemborys, currently stationed in MS, who is the test coordinator at Pro Gulf MS for the new Coast Guard National Security Cutters; five grandchildren: Nicholas and Kassandra Lane of E. Lebanon, ME, David Lane of Spofford, N.H., Andrew and Abigail Gemborys of Barre, MA, and three great-grandchildren: Ava Lane and Hunter Boles of E. Lebanon, ME, and Marleigh of Spofford, N.H.