WILLIAM "FRANK" GODWIN's Obituary
GODWIN III, William Francis, (Capt. Frank) a life-long resident of Coral Gables, passed peacefully on March 16, 2016 surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer. Born May 10, 1948 in his parents’ home on Alhambra Circle, Frank graduated Coral Gables High School, Class of ’66 and attended Texas A&I. He began fishing as a mate for Capt. Ray Hathaway and it quickly became his passion. He began his professional career as a Charter Boat Captain on his beloved Sonny Boy kept, behind his parents’ home on the Gables Waterway. He quickly outgrew that location and took the Sonny Boy to Crandon Marina on Key Biscayne where he would remain for the next 40 years. Frank also served as a private Captain throughout his career, taught fishing seminars and classes and gave lectures on the sport he so loved. He won tournaments too numerous to count, including the Bertram/Hatteras Shootout and for a while, became a habitual winner of the Miami Billfish Tournament and liked to think he was the sole reason the FWC put a limit on groupers.
Frank was devoted to his children and grandchildren, and eloquently said, “In the end, all that really matters in life is family”. He will be fondly remembered as a man of honesty, integrity, his (occasional) sense of humor and character larger than life. Next to his family, his biggest accomplishment was the impact he had on so many lives. Frank loved to share his knowledge of fishing, and many of today’s greatest anglers and Captains in the area got their start with him. He will truly be missed by everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Robin, sons, Quarter and Tommy, daughter Stacia Elizabeth, grandchildren Robin Alise and Austin Bradley, his father, William Francis Godwin, Jr., sisters Cynthia Lewis (Gary) and Connie Morgan (Chris) and numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Frank was predeceased by his mother, Josephine, in October of 2011.
A celebration of Capt. Frank’s life will be held in April. Friends are welcome to contact family members for information.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Fishing Futures, Inc. a 501(3)(c) nonprofit which has created a dedicated fund to support a reef replenishment project, “The Patch” named for and in honor of Capt. Frank Godwin. Donations can be sent to Fishing Futures, Inc. Godwin Reef Fund, c/o Capt. Mike Puller, 4728 SW 67th Ave., #J10, Miami, FL 33155.
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