CAPE ELIZABETH — Photographic Artist, Gail Ann Osgood, 52, of Cape Elizabeth lost her courageous 5 year battle with cancer on September 13, 2012 with her family at her side. Ever the optimist, Gail’s love for her children, family and friends, and life itself, lead to multiple odds beating chances at life with each successive diagnostic setback.

Born in Nurnberg, Germany on October 9, 1959 and the fourth of five children to Mrs. Jane Fife of Brunswick, ME and Ralph B. Osgood, Jr. (deceased) Gail quickly established herself as the family athlete. Her fearless approach to downhill ski racing and gymnastics, her pigtails flying behind, coupled with the finesse and skill she brought to the soccer fields, tennis courts and ice hockey rinks upon which she competed often earned her MVP status, both at Northfield Mount Hermon School and as a 1982 graduate of Skidmore College. A tri-athlete, Gail’s competitive spirit found her on many triathlon venues over the years including Tri for A Cure, initially as a competitor, and later as a photographer and spectator. An avid fly fisherwoman, she traveled throughout the country in pursuit of “the big one”. It was not uncommon to see her with her binoculars watching the surrounding birdlife, a pleasured pass time. Her favorite sport was ice hockey. She skated circles around the neighborhood boys on their backyard rinks in her early life. After a successful collegiate career, she returned to Maine and was instrumental in establishing the Maine Mosquitos, Maine’s first female traveling hockey team. Her ability to succeed under any circumstance could best be summed up by her license plate for many years…CDWYCI, “can do what you can imagine”.

Earning acceptance to the Periclean Society, Skidmore’s academic honor society in 1982, Gail completed her Art Major that year after a year abroad in Vienna. She then began a recognized 25 year professional photography career in Maine which included work for sitting US Presidents, Senators and Governors. Countless weddings and family portraits are where she made her artistic mark, capturing her client’s natural beauty, representing their essence, as well as reflecting their appearance. Her portrait work can be found in homes throughout New England. A member of the Maine Professional Photographers Association for over 20 years, she was a speaker at conventions and an inspiration and teacher to many New England Photographers. She also was a member of the Portland Rotary Club. The pride and joy of Gail’s life were her two daughters, Annie and Lucy. Whether cheering from the sidelines or helping with homework, Gail’s kind and enthusiastic spirit was evident. She and the girls enjoyed special time together on recent trips to Anguilla, Washington DC, and London where they had “a blast”. They also took a trip this summer to the Maine whoopie pie festival to indulge in her favorite treat. Gail took great pride in watching them blossom into the beautiful young ladies they are today.

Gail is survived by her daughters Annie and Lucy of Cape Elizabeth, her mother Mrs. Jane Fife and stepfather Dr. James Fife of Brunswick and four siblings, Ellen Osgood of Phoenicia, NY and her husband Lester Fensterheim, Laurie O. Thwaites of Falmouth, MA and her husband Fredrik Thwaites, R. Bartlett Osgood, III of Cumberland Foreside and his wife Holly M. Steele, and Catherine O. Municchi of Ocean NJ. Also surviving her are nieces and nephews Stephanie, Robbie, and Lizzie Municchi of Ocean NJ.

Gail’s family wishes to thank her friends, Dr. Roger Inhorn, Mercy Hospital, Robin Wright, and the Cape Elizabeth community for their love and support when Gail needed them most.

A Private service was held Saturday September 29th, 2012. A celebration of Gail’s life will be held on: Monday October 22nd at 6-8pm Bowdoin College Alumni House, 83 Federal Street, Brunswick, ME. Donations in Gail’s Memory may be made to: Maine Audubon, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, ME 04105. Respectfully handled by Conroy Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, ME.