Gail (Jacobsen) Isaksen
Graduating class: 1963
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2026
Hall of Fame Category: Lifetime Achievement
After graduating from Fairhaven High School in 1963 Gail (Jacobsen) Isaksen went on to Southeastern Massachusetts University (presently UMass-Dartmouth) and she graduated as the Valedictorian of the Class of 1967. She took a position at Pawtucket Memorial Hospital in Rhode Island as the Director of the Phlebotomy Lab before beginning her career as a highly successful business women.
Gail had a deep love for the town of Fairhaven, and as she built new business enterprises in town she made sure that they would add to the charm of Fairhaven and fill a need. The Euro Ship Store on Ferry St., and the Euro Phoenix Store in the center of town were unique businesses that quickly became shopping destinations. When Gail bought the old fisherman’s barroom know as the Ferry Café and converted it into Elisabeth’s Restaurant she added a touch of class to that part of town. Margaret’s Restaurant was previously a ship supply store that she converted into a popular restaurant as well.
Gail owned and operated a fleet of scallop fishing boats, and occupied a role as one of the prominent leaders of the fishing industry on the Southcoast. It was only natural that she should purchase the two largest shipyards in Fairhaven (Kelly’s Shipyard and Fairhaven Marine) which she renamed Fairhaven Shipyards North and South.
As successful as Gail was in her business ventures, the factor that really qualifies her for the Lifetime Achiever designation is the passion that she had for the community of Fairhaven, and the quiet, reserved manner in which she supported many benevolent causes within the town.
One of her greatest loves was Fairhaven High School. She served on the FHS Alumni Board of Directors for over 30 years, and was a passionate, vocal supporter of FHS athletics throughout her life, especially the girls sports teams: volleyball and softball.
Gail was dedicated to the Fairhaven Historical Society’s mission of preserving Fairhaven’s history and over the years she acquired, preserved and maintained many historic homes in town as rental properties at affordable rates. She was also a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Millicent Library Board of Trustees.
Another of Gail’s passions was the Fairhaven Animal Shelter. She had a real love of dogs, particularly the ones that were abandoned and ended up at the shelter. She adopted many of them over her lifetime and often she took the ones that no one else wanted. She could frequently be seen at the animal shelter walking dogs that just needed some loving attention.
Gail Isaksen was one of a kind. She was very modest and soft spoken, and was known and respected as a person of character who generously supported many benevolent causes within Fairhaven and the South Coast while at the same time shying away from the limelight and always avoiding any type of notoriety or recognition for herself.
Gail passed away on November 28, 2025 but her legacy lives on in the form of the Isaksen Family Foundation that she created which continues the charitable work that was her hallmark.