Final Passages

Mary von Conta, 90

Mary von Conta, 90

August 7, 2024 at 7:31 pm

Southport, Conn. Mary von Conta, who made sailing better through her involvement, passed away August 7 at age 90 in Southport, Conn. With her passing sailing lost someone special. Spotlighting the need for better instructor training, she developed and implemented a program to bolster ethics, integrity, and culture in juniorRead More

Michael “Bruce” Tait, 72

Michael “Bruce” Tait, 72

July 29, 2024 at 7:36 pm

Sag Harbor, N.Y. Michael “Bruce” Tait, who was a fixture for more than 40 years on Sag Harbor’s waterfront as a sailor, yacht broker, and longtime chairman of the Village Harbor Committee, died on July 29 at his home, just a stone’s throw away from the harbor he loved. Tait,Read More

Guilford Ware Full, 97

Guilford Ware Full, 97

July 6, 2024 at 3:31 pm

Brooklin, Maine Guilford Ware Full, lovingly known as “Giffy,” died peacefully on Saturday, July 6, with his children Bill Full and Arlene “Tuny” Page at his side in Brooklin. Giffy was born in Lynn, Mass., on Feb. 9, 1927, to William Sanford Full and Mabel Farnham Full. The family relocatedRead More

Dave Pavelko, 50

Dave Pavelko, 50

June 30, 2024 at 3:33 pm

Waterford, Conn. David James Pavelko, 50, of Waterford, Conn., passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 30 after losing his year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. David was born on July 8, 1973 in Bridgeport, Conn., the son of the late James Edward Pavelko and Susan Henchman Pavelko.Read More

William Henry Zuber, II, 88

William Henry Zuber, II, 88

June 19, 2024 at 3:35 pm

Friendship, Maine William Henry Zuber, II began his final expedition on June 19 at the age of 88, after a short illness. Born in Manalapan, N.J., the son of Ethelmae (Kroll) and William Henry Zuber on March 10, 1936, Bill grew up on a farm in New Jersey, attended ManasquanRead More

Charles P. Shoemaker, Jr., 86

Charles P. Shoemaker, Jr., 86

June 4, 2024 at 4:16 pm

Newport, R.I. Dr. Charles P. Shoemaker, Jr., accomplished surgeon, community builder, and sailing competitor, passed away June 4 in Newport, R.I. He was 86 years old. Born July 6, 1937 in Franklin, New Jersey, son of Charles P. Shoemaker, Sr. and Alice Haight Shoemaker, Charlie was a 1959 alumnus ofRead More

Ken Legler, 70

Ken Legler, 70

May 31, 2024 at 4:15 pm

Reading, Mass. Renowned college coach and race manager Ken Legler died on May 31 after a 20-year battle with cancer. He was 70. Legler, the head sailing coach at Tufts University from 1980 until his retirement in 2023, was an All-American at the University of Rhode Island and a 2019Read More

James McCreary, 68

James McCreary, 68

May 23, 2024 at 3:36 pm

Stratford, Conn. James Bennett McCreary (Jamie, Big Red), of Stratford, Conn., died from natural causes on May 23. An accomplished yachtsman and racing sailor for all seasons, Jamie’s many achievements included winning World, International, National, Regional, Collegiate, Frostbite, and Junior Championships, among others. A two-time College All-American, he was inductedRead More

Paul Lindenberg, 89

Paul Lindenberg, 89

May 19, 2024 at 4:13 pm

Rochester, N.H. Renowned racing sailboat designer, builder and racer Paul Lindenberg passed away peacefully at St. Anne’s nursing home in Dover, N.H., on May 19. He was 89. Born March 3, 1935 in Anderson, Indiana by parents Herman and Faye Lindenberg, he won many different class sailing events including theRead More

James Galbraith Bennett III, 70

James Galbraith Bennett III, 70

April 14, 2024 at 4:11 pm

Camden, Maine James Galbraith Bennett III, 70, of Camden, Maine, passed away at Maine Medical Center on April 14. He was the son of the late Barbara H. Bennett and James G. Bennett, Jr., originally of Wayzata, Minnesota, more recently of Woolwich, Maine. Jim graduated from Darien High School inRead More