Thomas Dolph Gabeler, known to all simply as Dolph, passed away on September 24, 2026, of natural causes at his home in Yorktown, Virginia. He was 70 years old.
Born on May 27, 1956, in Taipei, Taiwan, Dolph grew up with a spirit of adventure that would define his entire life. As a young man, he attended the American School of Vientiane from 1967 to 1971, an early chapter in a life lived far and wide. He went on to become a longtime Master Sail Maker at North Sails, where his skill and dedication earned him deep respect. Among his proudest achievements, in November 1996, aboard the CCP Cray Valley, Dolph and a crew of four men set the record for the fastest Newport to Bermuda crossing.
The sea was his great love, but it was far from his only one. He delighted in cooking, art, and music, and above all he treasured time spent with family. Fiercely loyal and endlessly adventurous, Dolph was a lifelong teacher, though never in a traditional classroom, sharing his knowledge and passion with everyone fortunate enough to know him.
He is survived by his wife, Dari Gabeler; his daughters, Maitreya Gabeler and Jessica Gabeler Desforges; his son, Dolph Gabeler; and his sister, Andy Ferris. He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Gabeler III; his sister, Caroline Gabeler; and his parents, Josephine Gabeler and Charles Gabeler Jr.
Service details are to follow.
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