Gordon Kenneth Ringquist, 84, of Fair Haven died January 4, 2015. He was born April 27, 1930, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the son of the late Carl W. Ringquist, Sr., and Alma (Anderson) Ringquist. Gordon grew up in Fitchburg, MA, attended Fitchburg State College. He joined the Air Force in 1950, and was stationed at Sampson Air Force Base in the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York for 4 years. It was there, by default, that he began his career in the food service industry. On December 20, 1952, Gordon married Joanne VanGelder whom he met on a blind date. The couple moved from Rochester, NY to Vermont in 1957, settling in Castleton in 1962. Gordon worked at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY, the Idlenot Dairy in North Springfield, VT, and as the Food Service Director at Castleton State College. He and his wife, Joanne, owned and operated Ringquists Dining Room in Bomoseen for over 20 years. Prior to their retirement, the couple was well known for the homemade donuts they sold at local farmers markets and from their restaurant. On many weekends a steady stream of friends and neighbors were drawn to the Ringquists by the promise of a warm homemade donut. Gordon was an avid Red Sox fan. He enjoyed watching MLB baseball and attending his grandchildrens sporting events. In 1965, Gordon helped start and coached the first Babe Ruth baseball team for the town of Castleton. Active in the local Democratic Party, Gordon supported candidates who worked for social equality and fairness for all. Gordon was predeceased by his wife Joanne in 2012 and by his two brothers, Carl and James and an infant son, Nathan. Gordon is survived by seven children. Eric and his wife Colleen and their children Emily and Ethan; Carl and his wife Alice and his son Christopher; Linda and her husband Joseph Doran; Karen and her husband Jeffrey Close and their children Jennifer and Allison; Carolyn (Sam) and her husband George Chandler and their children Geoffrey and Alexander; Van and his children Chelsea and Gavin; and Becky and her husband William Short and their children Anne Marie and Lyndsie. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, his brother Richard and many nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015, at the Ducharme Funeral Home, 1939 Main Street, Castleton, VT. The family will continue to receive friends after the service until 3:00 p.m. At Gordons request, in memory of his wife, memorial contributions may be made to the Foley Cancer Center at the Rutland Regional Medical Center at 160 Allen Street Rutland, VT 05701 Arrangements are under the direction of the Ducharme Funeral Home Inc. Online condolence at www.ducharmefuneralhome.com