Sabin C. Abell, Jr.

Sabin “Sabe” Clark Abell, Jr., Oak Harbor, Vero Beach, died unexpectedly while driving on June 1, 2016.

A 5th generation Vermonter, he was born September 28, 1932 in Burlington, Vermont to the late Sabin Clark Abell and Irene Bates Abell.

Sabe was a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth College class of 1954, and was a member of their lacrosse and ski teams at the time when Dartmouth dominated the ski scene nationally. Sabe relished his memories of ski racing, and especially skiing the legendary Tuckerman’s Ravine alongside teammates who were on the United States Olympic team.

After graduation he joined the family business, Wood’s Sporting Goods Store in Burlington, Vermont. There, he introduced head skis to the area, and began his long and varied career in the ski and sporting goods industry, his abiding passion.

As a manufacturer’s representative, Sabe introduced several ski and sporting goods products to the United States, setting up national sales and marketing agents. He then worked in the sporting goods trade show exhibit business. Throughout his career, he traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, making many life-long friends in the industry.
In 1999, he and his wife Karen moved from Shelburne, Vermont to Vero Beach, Florida, where at age 71 he started a new career as an elected Vero Beach City Councilman, acting as a Vice Mayor and Mayor during his 7 year tenure. At a time of need for important decisions on the direction of growth, he brought insight, judgment and an ability to bring people together for the long-term benefit of Vero Beach. His mission was to preserve the quality of life that was so central to his beloved city.

In Vero, he was a member of the Moorings Club, Indian River Land Trust, McKee Garden, Vero Beach Museum of Art, and Riverside Theater. As president of the Dartmouth Alumni Club of Vero Beach, he thoroughly enjoyed interviewing prospective Dartmouth applicants. He was a founding member of the Indian River Neighborhood Association, and an enthusiastic volunteer for McKee and Indian River Land Trust. In Vermont, he was a past member of the Mallets Bay Boat Club, Burlington Country Club, and Ethan Allen Club.

An honorable gentleman, he will be remembered for his loyalty to his many friends, his fine character, intelligence, judgment, sense of humor, and his passion for athletics, particularly skiing, golf, and sailing. He spent many years sailing and racing on Lake Champlain on his Luders 33 “Saucy Fox”, and off-shore as crew in several Newport to Bermuda and Sorc Races.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Karen Vail Hurley Abell; daughter, Kym Hurley; sons, Matt and John Abell; bother-in law, (pun intended) Burr Vail; sister-in-law, Linda Vail; grandchildren, Blake and Zora Hurley; niece, Adrienne Vail; and nephew, Robb Abell. He was predeceased by children, Cheryl, Suzanne, and Michael Abell; and sister, Martha Rudd.

A memorial service will be held 5:00 p.m., Sunday, July 31, 2016 at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, Inc., 291 Bostwick Farm Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM, Friday, November 4, 2016 at St. Augustine Of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 475 43rd Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32968 with a reception to follow in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dartmouth Club Ski Team, Robinson Hall, 6 North Main Street, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 or Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, P.O. Box 1511, Stowe, Vermont 05672 or Phillips Exeter Academy, 20 Main Street, Exeter, New Hampshire 03833.