"Cap" Arthur H. Vinal, Jr.

Arthur “Cap” Heald Vinal, Jr., a longtime Duxbury and Norwell resident. 

Born in Weymouth, MA on April 7, 1948 and raised in Norwell, MA. Cap was the eldest of Arthur Heald “Bus” and Olive Elizabeth “Beth” (Crittenden) Vinal’s four sons.

Cap attended Norwell Public Schools in his primary years and later Tilton Academy. He graduated from the Manter Hall School Cambridge, MA, Cape Cod Community College and graduated from The University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Cap grew up on the North River and had a passion and devotion to it his entire life. His nautical endeavors began at a young age with the usual rowboat, but soon escalated to a custom Hydroplane that he used with abandon, ingratiating a few and infuriating others. All the while, plying the river and its estuaries at breakneck speeds...BEFORE there was even a speed limit!!! Try as they may to curtail his spirited exploits, there would, somehow, soon be another vessel in place of the one that was recently "quarantined”. It would be replaced with one that was capable of raising even more mischief and controversy, and, of course, even FASTER!

During the summer and vacations of his high school years, Cap worked at the family business, The Stetson Shoe Company, Weymouth, MA in a myriad of capacities. Cap went on to work for The Town of Hingham Conservation Department prior to starting his own business, New England Tackle Company of Hingham, MA.

Cap was an avid sportsman, duck hunter and collector of decoys, the passion of which began at the age of 20 and specifically, those of local and regional carvers. Soon his knowledge on the subject flourished and grew exponentially, as did the respect for him from other knowledgeable collectors across the country. He became a renowned national expert and went on to write the quintessential book on local legend and revered carver, Joe Lincoln of Accord, MA. After many years, Cap had reached a pinnacle in the world of Decoy collecting and became as revered and respected in the collecting arena, just as Lincoln was as a carver.

Cap passed away on December 30, 2018 at home, with his loving wife Barbara and brother Stevens by his side.

He was predeceased by his eldest son Ben Vinal. He leaves his wife, Barbara Van Dingstee Vinal, and his three children: Sam Vinal of Los Angeles, CA, Jon Vinal of Boston, MA and Nancy and her husband Joao Rocha of Boston, MA. His three brothers survive him: Stevens Vinal and his fiancée Joanne Stewart of Duxbury, MA, Clifton Vinal of Tamworth, NH and Kenneth and his wife Abbey of Bremen, ME. He is also survived by nieces and nephews: Katie and husband Steve Thomas, Paton and wife Laura Vinal, Alexandra Vinal, Nick Vinal, great nephew Niko Vinal and great niece Effie Vinal.

He was a longtime Norwell representative and former Chairman of the North River Commission, a member and past officer of the North & South Rivers Watershed Association and a member of the Great Lakes Decoy Collectors Association, Midwest Decoy Collectors Association, Green Harbor Yacht Club and Mass Bay Striped Bass Association.

A Celebration of Cap’s Life will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 11 am in First Parish Church, 24 River St., Norwell, MA. 02061.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to:

Ken Vinal's Brain Cancer Battle: https://www.gofundme.com/ken-vinal039s-brain-cancer-battle

Hospice of the South Shore Foundation, 30 Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA. 02284

North & South Rivers Watershed Association: P.O. Box 43 Norwell, MA 02061

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