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Forwarded for Chris Nowlan: re Jerry's passing & obituary

To: cjnowlan@cox.net, mg-tabc@egroups.com (T-ABCs_Forever), TCMG@yahoogroups.com, mg-mmm@autox.team.net, mg-t@autox.team.net
Subject: Forwarded for Chris Nowlan: re Jerry's passing & obituary
From: TATERRY@aol.com
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 12:05:59 EDT
Reply-to: TATERRY@aol.com
Sender: owner-mg-mmm@autox.team.net
 Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 6:34 AM
 Subject: re Jerry's passing & obituary
  
 Guys, 
        Laurie and I have been on the east coast and we were pleased to have 
been with Jerry, Doris & Nicole last week.  They have been truly like family 
to me for the better part of my own life. ( as a 6 year old, I really thought 
MG stood for Mr. Goguen and that all MGs were built in Needham Mass ! )  
Jerry was quite emotional as I told him about my visit to Silverstone and the 
long list of friends that had asked about him.  Doris thought we should also 
take the occasion to present him with the Jerry Keuper award which Bill 
Tantau had arranged to send some weeks ago.   Doris had hoped that a group of 
MMM and MG-T  enthusiasts including David Jackson,  the recently rediscovered 
previous owner of Jerry 's K3 from 56-63 could be there but his illness was 
taking it's toll and this was simply not possible.   
 
  
 
     Doris & Nicole have been overwhelmed by cards, flowers and words of 
comfort from friends around the world.  The following obituary is for general 
distribution to the MG community. 
     I have lots of "Jerry" stories to relate and fond memories of our 
adventures together.  He will be missed.   More to follow.    
 Cheers, 
 Chris Nowlan
 
 Jerry Goguen, an extraordinary MG enthusiast and renaissance man, passed 
away peacefully on July 28th after a courageous 15 month battle with cancer. 
Born in 1925 in Rumford, Maine of French Canadian stock, Jerry learned 
English as a second language while excelling in music, speed skating and 
skiing. After a stint in the Army music corps during WWII, he finished his 
education at the New England Conservatory of Music before joining the Boston 
Symphony Orchestra where his talents with the trumpet served him well until 
his retirement in 1979. 
 
 Jerry's first MG was a TD model purchased new in 1953. By 1955 he had opened 
a small MG and VW dealership in Lunenburg, MA. This venture was, however, 
short-lived due to operational policy changes within both the BMC and 
Volkswagen organizations. During the late 1950's and early 60's, Jerry built, 
rebuilt and recycled many T-series MGs long before T-series cars were 
generally considered classics or thought worthy of "restoration."
 
 In the early 1960's he started to acquire from MG dealers and distributors 
across the country a treasure trove of "obsolete" new, old stock T-series 
parts while touring with the Orchestra. During European tours with the BSO in 
the mid 1960's, he visited many UK dealers, and established manufacturing 
contacts that would lead him to become a major contributor to the worldwide 
preservation of T-series MGs. This inventory and fledgling business grew into 
Abingdon Spares, Ltd. Jerry was well known in UK Autojumble circles for his 
never ending quest for NOS parts to add to his growing inventory. 
 
 Jerry's interest in Pre-war MGs also grew, and during the 70's & 80's he 
amassed a large collection of pre & post war MGs which in time evolved into 
the Westminster MG Museum. With over 40 different models, including most of 
the rare Pre-war models, this became what was perhaps the world's largest 
collection of MGs under single ownership. Jerry was a founding member of the 
North American MMM Register and this year's recipient of the Jerry Keuper 
Award. Jerry sold his interest in Abingdon Spares, Ltd. in 1999 and in recent 
years had been considerably downsizing his MG collection to a more manageable 
level. He continued his interest in skiing and teaching by serving as a ski 
instructor at Stratton Mountain, VT. until illness forced his retirement in 
2001. Jerry was also a knowledgeable and keen collector of 18th century 
American decorative arts and furniture. 
 
 Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Doris and their daughter, Nicole. He 
will be sorely missed by all who got the chance to know him. 

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