WILMINGTON — Gary Wayne Chadwick, age 77, of Wilmington, NC, passed away on February 9, 2024, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center with his loving family by his side. Gary was born on January 22, 1947, and was proud to be a lifelong Wilmington resident.
He was a graduate of New Hanover High School (class of 1965), and Wilmington College (class of 1969), where he was Student Body President and a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. After college, he served in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Thanks to the G.I. Bill, he followed his passion for helping others to law school, and he received his J.D. from UNC Chapel Hill in 1975. Gary faithfully served his local Wilmington community as a title insurance lawyer for more than four decades, most recently building his own successful title insurance company, Chadwick Land Title, from the ground up.
He was a devoted philanthropist, enthusiastically giving back to his community. He held the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern North Carolina especially close to his heart, dedicating 39 years to the organization as a chairman, board member, fundraiser, and volunteer. In recent years, he also became a significant supporter of Eden Village, a community for formerly unhoused individuals in the Wilmington area. He was also an active member of the faith community at Wrightsville United Methodist Church.
Always energetic, Gary loved a good round of golf, a tennis match, a nice hike and riding the bike at the gym. He had a passion for seeing the world and exploring new cultures, enjoying adventures with his family and friends to Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, California, and the Grand Canyon to name a few. He could frequently be found sipping Knob Creek whiskey on the back porch in front of the fire, or playing ball with his beloved dog, Rocky. He was an avid fan and supporter of the UNCW Seahawks and UNC Tar Heels. At weddings, he was the life of the party and could always be found breaking it down in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by a crowd. He was a deep thinker, a scholar, an expert advice-giver, and a big advocate for daily afternoon naps. Most important to him, however, was his wife and three children, of whom he was extremely proud, and who he loved dearly.
Gary is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Sharon Bryan Chadwick, daughter Margaret (Greg) Chadwick of Raleigh, NC, sons Bryan (Ellen) Chadwick of Pittsburgh, PA, and Logan Chadwick of San Francisco, CA.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at Wrightsville United Methodist Church at 4 Live Oak Drive, Wrightsville Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s memory may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern North Carolina (bgcsenc.org), Eden Village of Wilmington (edenvillagewilmington.org), or Wrightsville United Methodist Church (wrightsvilleumc.org).
