Earle Sinclair Winter Jr. of Williamsville, a businessman and avid tennis enthusiast, died on March 25, 2025. He was 92. He was born in Syracuses on September 3, 1932, to Earle S. Winter, Sr., and Edna “Teddy” Gabrielle Wallace Seeberg. Earle grew up in Kenmore and lived in the Buffalo area his entire life, and was an avid “Bill’s” fan.

He is a graduate of Kenmore High School and the University of Buffalo with a B.S. in Business Administration, and served in the U.S. Army as a Specialist in Guided Missiles.

Earle’s career began as a furniture wholesaler learning the business from his father. He established Earle S. Winter Jr Inc. in 1964 to branch out into the retail furniture as the Chairman of Board of Cape Cod Shops, Inc. that he acquired and El Cape Furniture that he created.

By 1970, his Cape Cod’s original store in Kenmore was remodeled and reopened as El Cape and became the only store in Western New York specializing in Spanish and Mediterranean home furnishings. The Cape Cod Shops expanded to Buffalo, Clarence, and Orchard Park, in addition to his El Cape shop in Kenmore, becoming the largest Country and Colonial furniture specialty operation in the country.

Earle was a Lake Erie boating enthusiast and went out of his way to entertain his nephew and niece on his boats which seemed to change season after season from one boat to the next during their visits to see him as they grew up.

Earle was a lifelong tennis player, and his greatest enjoyment was playing tennis, so much so he built a second tennis court on his property so his friends could play while he was playing. He was a member at the Buffalo Racquet Club, Four Seasons Tennis Club and Miller Tennis Center where he played until he was 80. He had a great sense of humor who brought laughter and smiles to those around him. Earle will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Earle is survived by his nephew Michael Mainwold and niece Mindee Mainwold Grady; grand nephews and nieces, Connor and Alexandria Mainwold, and Matthew, Hollee and Ryan Grady; his godson Raymond Porter, and his cousin Iris Seeberg Kimmel. He was preceded in death by his sister Diane Winter Iserhardt in 2024, cousin John Wallace “Wally” Loonan, and close friends Ray Porter and David Moore.

Interment will be private. Online condolences may be placed at www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com.