ROCKLAND — Ebenezer Gay, 87, died quietly Feb. 28, 2013, at the Knox Center for Long Term Care Skilled Care Unit.

He was born in Hingham, Mass., Dec. 17, 1925. Eben was the son of Martha Gay Terry and stepson of George S. Terry. Hingham was his permanent home until he retired to Rockland in December 1994. For 55 years, he and his family summered on the island of Vinalhaven.

Eben was educated at Derby Academy in Hingham, and graduated from Harvard University in 1954. Enlisting in the U.S Army, he saw combat in Europe with the 99th Division, during World War II.

In 1955 Eben married Diana Roberts. Together they returned to his historic family home in Hingham where their son, Ebenezer Roberts Gay was born. Eben was active in the community as trustee of the "Old Ship Church," achairman of the Trustees of the Hingham Public Library and always interested in the preservation of the beautiful old buildings of that town. He worked as executive officer at the Boston Athenaeum and then became assistant curator at The Harvard Collection of Historic Scientific Instruments.

Eben was a historian and a self-taught cabinet maker who delighted in creating and restoring objects of utility and beauty. He loved sailing his handsome replica Friendship sloop among the islands of Penobscot Bay with his son and wife as his crew. He designed a superbly fitted-out boathouse for storing and maintaining his boats.

Eben is survived by his wife, Diana; his son, Ebenezer and his wife, Winifred; and two grandchildren, Robert Gay and Patricia Gay.

A celebration of Eben's life will be held in the spring. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Rockland Public Library or Vinalhaven Public Library.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland.