Gilbert Richard McKown, age 88 years, of Annandale, NJ, died suddenly but peacefully at home on Sunday, July 9, 2023.

Born on December 8, 1934, in Swampscott, MA, son of the late H. Merrill McKown and Dorothy Maynard McKown, Gil grew up in Floral Park, NY, and lived in Hicksville and Greenlawn, NY, prior to moving to Annandale in 1975.

Graduating from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, Gil continued his education at Lehigh University, graduating in 1957, earning his undergraduate degree. He also attended Hofstra University, earning his MA in Business. He would then join the United States Army Reserves, serving as a Medic, before being honorably discharged in 1963.

Gil was wise, compassionate, a professional and a true leader. He worked for AT & T in Bedminster and Basking Ridge, NJ, for a large part of his career, serving in many capacities and worked as a Market Manager before his retirement in 1989. Dedicated and diligent, he put his heart into all that he did and upon retirement from AT & T, followed his passion for traveling by opening Pacesetter Travel, Annandale, NJ. He would operate the agency for ten years.

The travel bug allowed him to navigate the world. He was able to find the best in every place he visited. Gil enjoyed learning about the culture he was visiting, as well as enjoying all the culinary delights available. Some of his most memorable and favorite places involved beautiful beaches, where he could swim and recall his younger years working as a lifeguard on the beaches of Long Island. One of his favorite beaches was Orient Beach in Saint Maarten.

Serving the community was also a major part of Gil’s life. He proudly served as the Executive Director of the Hunterdon County Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, where he positively impacted the lives of many young people. He did this while operating Pacesetter Travel.

A true family man through and through, “Grampy” was there for his wife, children, and grandchildren however they needed him, usually with a German Shorthaired Pointer by his side. Gil also enjoyed reading. On the top of his reading pile were autobiographies and anything relating to history.

Gil had many other interests, such as sailing, painting, and design. He had an artistic and design flair that showed throughout his home and landscape. He enjoyed painting everything from portraits to landscapes, in mediums that ranged from oils to pastels to charcoal.

Though his passing was sudden and unexpected, there is no doubt that the love he shared with all those he met will be remembered and cherished. To honor Gil is to be kinder to one another, whoever and wherever they are in this world, including helping animals in need.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Sue McKown in 1978, as well as by a son, Steven W. McKown in 1979.

Surviving is his wife, Sandra McKown; his children, Douglas McKown and Deborah Seguine and her husband, Mark; his grandchildren, Matthew Douglas McKown, Steven Seguine and his wife, Lauren, and Emily Seguine; his sister-in-law, Susan Ellner; his faithful German Shorthaired Pointer, Samantha Todd and several extended family members; and many friends. .

Family and friends will gather to celebrate Gil’s life on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, from 3:00-4:00 p.m., with a life celebration service following at 4:00 pm in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.  Life celebration services, officiated by Certified Life Celebrant D.J. Wright.  If you are unable to attend but would like something read on your behalf, please click HERE to generate an email to the funeral home.

Interment at Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, NJ, will be private.

You are encouraged to visit Gil’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 424 E. 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128-6804, or online by clicking HERE. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by his family.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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