Gene Record sits by a window overlooking Crowninshield Island and Little Harbor, reminiscing about his adventures and deep ties to Marblehead.
Record, 83, moved to Marblehead in 1956, living next door to his aunt Louise Crowninshield, who donated the nearby island to the Trustees of Reservations in 1955.
“I remember at age 16 I harpooned a tuna off of Gloucester – it was incredible,” said Record. “It weighed about 550 pounds, and we took it into Gloucester and sold it at the market there. It was a really exciting adventure at such an early age.”
After attending Brook School, Record studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he credits with helping him find himself.
“It was a wonderful university for me. It gave me a chance to really invent myself. I didn’t know anyone, no one knew me, so I could create my own environment,” he said.
His path included three years of military service, including time in Vietnam, followed by Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania and 35 years in finance. But at 50, Record’s adventures truly began when he read about the concept of “high pointing” in a Wall Street Journal article.
“When I turned 50, I decided with a partner of my firm that we needed to do something interesting for the next 50 years,” said Record. “At that time, the Wall Street Journal published an article about high pointers, people who climb the highest point in every state. And we decided that that would be a good thing to do.”
The challenge took him from the 811-foot Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island to 20,000-foot Mt. Denali in Alaska. Surprisingly, Rhode Island presented unique difficulties.
“It turned out that Rhode Island was the most difficult to get to,” said Record. “It was right off the road, but it was on private property and the owner would only let you in to touch the high point mark once a year.”
One of his proudest achievements came on Montana’s Granite Peak.
“Standing on top of Granite Peak in Montana after a three day trip and feeling the accomplishment of making that climb is one of my favorite memories,” said Record. “It was very challenging and required a lot of planning and work and sleeping on the glacier, and I think it was a momentous time.”
Record’s athletic pursuits have included the 186-mile Pan Mass Challenge bicycle ride, which he completed multiple times to honor friends with cancer.
“I found that very exhilarating,” said Record. “I have some friends who had cancer, and so it’s a wonderful tribute to them and their challenges.”
After retiring to Marblehead, Record successfully advocated for Brown’s Island to be renamed Crowninshield Island in honor of his aunt Louise, though it took two attempts and years of effort before succeeding in 2023.
“I felt that it would be appropriate because Mrs. Crowninshield gave it to the Trustees of Reservations to hold it open and keep it natural for everyone,” said Record.
Despite changes over the decades, Record remains optimistic about his hometown’s future.
“I think Marblehead is healthier, stronger and more vibrant today than it’s ever been,” he said.
