larchmont yacht club obituaries

• Public Notices

The Lincoln County News

Serving Maine and Lincoln County for over 140 years

Richard ‘Dick’ Ronan

September 4, 2022 at 11:26 am

After a brief illness, Richard “Dick” Ronan died at dawn on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in the arms of his wife Cathy. He was born in Tulsa, Okla. in 1933, the second son of Thomas and Susan (Driscoll) Ronan. His parents, originally from Ithaca, N.Y., moved to Tulsa when Thomas took a position with the Ethyl Corporation’s gasoline research division. After Susan’s untimely death in 1936, the young family returned to the East Coast, settling in Larchmont, N.Y. Thomas’ sister Mary mothered the two boys.

As a youngster Dick learned the art of sailing from the yachting icons Arthur Knapp and Cornelius Shields at Larchmont Yacht Club. The sport became a passion that shaped his life. He became an avid competitor in many different classes including distance racers, Shields, 210s, Finns, Interclub Dinghies, and an America’s Cup campaign aboard Columbia. Through the years he reached out to newcomers to the sport and he was always willing to share his experience and tactical knowledge with fellow competitors. He was committed to good sportsmanship which was acknowledged by Larchmont Yacht Club when he was awarded the Barker Trophy for sportsmanship on three separate occasions. In 1991 he was the first recipient of the David Pryor Trophy (the YRA of Long Island Sound Sportsmanship Award).

Dick graduated from Dwight Prep in Manhattan and Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the ice hockey team. Upon graduation, Dick worked briefly for Shields & Co. He left Wall Street to begin an executive position at Day & Meyer, Murray & Young, a moving and storage firm in Manhattan, specializing in art and antiques, where he spent the rest of his career. In 1963 Dick married Cathleen McCabe. They raised their three children in Larchmont, where they had both grown up. Dick passed his love of sailing to both of his sons – enjoying being crewmates on the Marblehead to Halifax Race with Tim, and the Newport Bermuda Race with Dan.

Dick became a member of the Larchmont Volunteer Fire Department in 1964. His 35 years of service with the LVFD included eight years as chief. He was highly respected for the training programs he developed for the department. After his retirement in 1999, Dick and Cathy moved to New Harbor, which was the fulfillment of a young man’s dream. The state of Maine was a great love. Dick first laid eyes on the Maine coast through a fog, from the top of a mast while making a repair during a race to Nova Scotia. He knew immediately that he would live there one day. Soon after settling in Maine, Dick began serving in Bristol Fire and Rescue, dedicating another 10 years to the fire service.

In all aspects of his life, Dick was hardworking, generous and loyal. He was devoted to his family and to his beloved pets. In recent years he spent many hours walking his cherished Shetland sheepdog, Duffy, at Pemaquid Point. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Dick was predeceased by his son, Tim; and brother, Tom. He is survived by his wife, Cathy; son, Dan; daughter, Jeanne; daughter-in-law, Karen; and grandchildren, Allison, Katrina, and Steve.

A service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 12 at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle. Following the mass and burial there will be a lunch reception at The Bradley Inn in New Harbor. If you wish to honor Dick’s memory, please do a good deed.

There will be a visitation on Sunday, Sept. 11 at Hall’s Funeral Home in Waldoboro. Please visit hallfuneralhomes.com for hours.

Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, light a candle for Dick, or to share a story or picture, visit his Book of Memories at hallfuneralhomes.com .

Share this:

To stay informed on local happenings,  sign up for our newsletter!

INFORMATION

• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Subscriptions

• Police & Sheriff
• Engagements, Weddings, & Births
• Sports Statistics
• Events & Activities
• Arts & Entertainment
• Lincoln County Magazine
• Photo Contest
• Community Choice
• Submit an Event
• Business Directory
• Submit a Press Release
• Submit an Ad
• Submit a Classified or Line Ad
• Submit an Obituary
• Submit a Volunteer Bulletin Board Listing
• Submit Other
• Submission Deadlines

Coping with Grief

We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.

Richard Chase Byrne

Richard byrne obituary.

Richard Chase Byrne, 73, passed away at his home on March 16, 2024.

He was born on July 10, 1950, in Mamaroneck, New York, to George P. Byrne and Eleanor Westervelt. He attended Mamaroneck High School and graduated from Denison University in Ohio. He grew up an accomplished sailor and raced his Etchells sailboat out of Larchmont Yacht Club for many years.

In 1980 he married the love of his life, Ellen Harris, and in 1985 they moved to South Salem, New York to raise their family. They have resided in South Salem for the past 39 years. Richard was President of Trade Association Management, Inc., for his entire career and up until his death. He was a member of Waccabuc Country Club and was an avid golfer for 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; daughter, Kelly (Brad) Skarupa, two sons Peter Byrne and Taylor (Mary) Byrne and his grandson Parker Skarupa. He is also survived by his two sisters Barbara (John) Esau and Karen (Michael) Watt.

Rich embodied sincerity, kindness and humility and had a great sense of humor. He was steadfast and fiercely loyal to his family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to South Salem Presbyterian Church in South Salem, New York, on Wednesday, March 27th at 11:00 AM to honor the life of Rich. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation,  https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PFFTribute/RichardByrne .

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Chase Byrne, please visit our floral store.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation - In Memory of Richard Chase Byrne Web: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PFFTribute/RichardByrne

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

THE VIEW FROM: LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB; The Men Who Go Down to the Sea, and Start Cleaning Up

By Lynne Ames

• March 25, 1990

LEAD: THE ''Knights of the Round Table'' are at it again. Nailing, hammering, scraping, doing all those things that come with spring cleanup. Down by the water, demolishing old docks, building new ones, they work as vigorously as if they were being paid great sums for their efforts.

THE ''Knights of the Round Table'' are at it again. Nailing, hammering, scraping, doing all those things that come with spring cleanup. Down by the water, demolishing old docks, building new ones, they work as vigorously as if they were being paid great sums for their efforts.

The Knights are an unofficial group of 20 or so men who belong to Larchmont Yacht Club. The Round Table - which in recent years has expanded to an oval and a rectangle pushed together - is in the Victorian clubhouse, where the men gather on Saturdays and Wednesdays for lunch. They laugh, joke, swap boating stories - and then they go down toward the water and help the paid maintenance crew get things ready for the coming season.

'It's a Challenge'

''The trouble with an older club is you never stop working,'' Vincent Monte-Sano, former commodore, club historian and retired clothing designer, complained cheerfully one recent afternoon. ''Everybody volunteers - not just the guys from the Round Table.'' John Herbert Norwood (Woody) Wheeler is a currency trader by profession and sailor and chairman of the marine facilities committee of the club by avocation. ''It's a challenge trying to get everything done on time,'' he said. ''The launches, the ramps - this time of year, it starts to be a pressure cooker around here.''

The club has the kind of history members like to talk about. In one piece of club literature, Mr. Monte-Sano writes:

''The tradition is that Larchmont Yacht Club owes its origin to the fact that on one muggy Sunday morning in June 1880, a half-dozen young men of Larchmont Manor disturbed a religious service being held in a boathouse in Manor Park. Prayers Are Disturbed

''The young men had grown hot and tired working on their small sailing boats. Their intention was to swim and then take a nap in the boathouse. However, the young men forgot that on Sunday mornings some ladies of the manor held services in the boatouse. Thus they were charged with disturbing the fair worshippers in their prayers.

''Chagrined, they retired to a nearby rock and discussed the situation. They decided to form a men's yacht club. However, it was made clear that the Union Church and the ladies were to use the boathouse on Sunday mornings, and on the other six-and-a-half days it was to be the clubhouse of the newly formed club.''

In 1887, membership growth necessitated the purchase of the present clubhouse, a stately Victorian mansion on 11 acres near the boathouse. The years 1900 through 1929 represented an age of opulence, of ''velvet swings, men in tails and top hats, caviar and Champagne sipped from ladies' slippers, and owning a 200-foot steam yacht was incidental,'' Mr. Monte-Sano writes.

A Prestigious Membership

J. P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie and three Vanderbilts were among the members; palatial schooners and steam yachts dotted the harbor.

The Depression changed all that. The well-to-do still flocked to the club, but the new members were also serious sailors who plied the waters in far smaller boats. They skippered and maintained them themselves, without benefit of servants. In 1936 the International Class racing sailboats were introduced, and other classes followed.

Throughout the years, activities and membership expanded. Women were admitted and so were young people; a junior clubhouse was built in 1952. There is also an unusual saltwater swimming pool - built so that it appears to be part of a natural inlet - and a small sandy beach. ''When I joined, there were two tennis courts and they were barely used,'' Mr. Monte-Sano recalled. ''Now there are seven tennis courts and four paddle-tennis courts.''

The emphasis, of course, is still on sailing. The club has 350 boats and 600 members; those who don't own craft crew for others. Cruising sailboats, which may be made from wood or fiberglass, remain popular: a model of the club's biggest, an 83-footer named Ondine, is mounted on a wall in the clubhouse dining room, with the inscription, ''First to Finish, Newport to Bermuda, July 21, 1974.''

Sleek Racing Craft

There are also sleek racing craft, these days mostly constructed of fiberglass, that compete in various classes: Shields, Etchells 22, Rhodes 19 and many others. From June through September, these boats race under the auspices of the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound; different clubs along the Sound take turns as hosts of the events. Preseason racing, done on a less formal basis, takes place in May and October.

There is even racing all winter. Hearty sailors navigate 11-foot dinghies into the Sound, going against each other in as many as eight ''frostbite'' races in an afternoon, braving the biting wind of winter and early spring. It is, Mr. Monte-Sano said, ''some of the best racing around.''

But these activities - and the many sailing classes for all ages and levels of competence - come with a price tag of year-round hard work. A maintenance staff of dozens takes care of the grounds, the wood-paneled clubhouse and the 14 launches, 24 floats and three gangways, Mr. Wheeler said. But the Round Table group and other members augment this professional work with plenty of volunteer elbow grease.

On a recent day, for instance, a half-dozen were dismantling weathered old floats that had been severely damaged last fall by the county's brush with Hurricane Hugo. Seagulls circled about, dropping clamshells on the dock; the air was heavy with the smell of salt and aging wood.

''We took a lot of damage last year,'' said Charles Hoffmann, who owns a construction business, as he and Guy Deutermann, the owner of Mamaroneck Boats and Motors Marina and a new club member, operated an electric winch. The machinery groaned; up from the water came a decrepit float, its sides encrusted with barnacles. When it reached the dock, the men began breaking it into smaller pieces to dispose of it.

Meanwhile, Robert Redfern, a stockbroker; Thomas Haley, who works for the New York Stock Exchange; James Kennelley, an executive with an educational-materials company; David Treacy, a lawyer, and Mr. Wheeler were building new floats and gangways. They hammered nails into planks, debated what height railings should be, and sounded as enthusiastic and intense as if they were closing a major business deal.

Volunteers the 'Lifeblood'

''The lifeblood of a club is its volunteers,'' Mr. Haley said. ''The vitality of a club lies in its membership.'' Then there were the boats being readied for summer. Members keep their craft in many places during the off-season. Some keep them at the club on dollies covered with tarpaulin. There is even a dedicated group of racers who ''dry sail'' all summer - they hoist their boats out of the water each time they come in, rather than mooring them, in order to keep out any water that might slow them down.

Nor are the only vessels those with sails. Mr. Kennelley's 29-year-old son Mark, a financier, and a friend, Ilene Weininger, a lawyer, were preparing ''Lady K,'' a 34-foot powerboat, for her first voyage of the season. Mr. Kennelley conceded that their work was not all that arduous. It amounted to cleaning up some soda that had frozen and exploded in the galley.

For every mundane task, however, there are tales of the open sea. LeSeur (Bud) Smith Jr., a publisher, sat at the Round Table, reminiscing about a close call in the summer of 1984.

Fog Sets In

''I was coming back from Newport and pea soup fog set in,'' he said. ''I heard the blast of a tugboat. She came in. I saw this black thing. I screamed, 'She's going to hit.' In a matter of 10 seconds, she was on my headstay'' - a mast support.

''I stood there. Then I climbed down on my boom and onto the barge. I'm waving and shouting. The captain comes out and looks at me, and says, 'Where the hell did you come from?' '' Mr. Smith's boat was damaged but it didn't sink.

Around the New York Region

A look at life, culture, politics and more in new york, new jersey and connecticut..

Spending Summer on a Pier:  In each of New York’s boroughs, decrepit piers have been brought back to life , offering beauty, fun and respite from the city’s buzz.

A Nightlife Lawyer’s Undoing:  Sal Strazzullo, the legal king of New York nightlife, made a flashy career of representing minor celebrities and those in their orbit. His own affluence was a facade .

A Subterranean Muse:  New York’s subway is embedded in the city’s fiction. Archival photos and literary quotes  offer a look at the past 120 years.

Street Wars: New York schools are reclaiming the city’s roads for recess  thanks to a program that will close 71 streets to traffic and open them for students to play.

Sunday Routine: Hilary Sheinbaum, the author of “The Dry Challenge,” spends her Sundays  running, gossiping over tennis and not (really) drinking alcohol.

• About Us & Contact
• Advertise with Buzz

Seattle Yacht Club Hopes Family and Familiarity Equals Success at 2024 Resolute Cup

When it comes to sailing, experience and chemistry are key—and Seattle Yacht Club’s (SYC) two-couple team is bringing both in spades to this week’s Resolute Cup. Benjamin Glass, Dalton Bergan, Jennifer Morgan Glass, and Lindsay Bergan—four names synonymous with sailing excellence—are geared up for a fierce competition starting September 11 at the New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court in Newport, R.I.

These four have been a sailing powerhouse for over 30 years, dating back to their junior sailing days at SYC. Their unique blend of experience and family ties sets them apart in this prestigious event. Dalton Bergan, a former Collegiate Sailor of the Year, and Lindsay Bergan, whose Olympic pedigree is as impressive as it gets, add serious star power. Meanwhile, Ben Glass boasts multiple national titles, and Jen Morgan Glass has an Olympic history of her own, having campaigned a 470 ahead of the 2000 and 2004 Games.

“We’re all about the comfort and camaraderie that comes from sailing together for so long,” says Morgan Glass. “It’s not just about the race; it’s about the fun and familiarity we share on the water.”

The Resolute Cup, a key qualifier for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, kicks off September 9, with races running until the 14th. This year’s competition will feature Sonars with provided sails and an equalized rig tune, ensuring every team has a fair shot. With support from Helly Hansen, Hammetts Hotel, Safe Harbor Marinas, and Peters & May, the event promises top-tier racing in the idyllic setting of Newport.

“The Sonar’s hull-speed limitation should make for some exciting, close racing,” Bergan, who will skipper the SYC team, notes. “It’s all about tactics and enjoying the game. We’re here to have fun and make the most of this unique experience.”

For Glass, who’s now selective about her sailing calendar, the Resolute Cup stands out as a must-attend event. “Week-long regattas like this are a real treat,” she says. “With top-notch facilities and race management, it’s the perfect balance of competition and enjoyment.”

Carolina Yacht Club’s Robert Wilkins, another seasoned competitor, is also eyeing success. With a history of strong performances in Newport, Wilkins is banking on his local knowledge and skilled crew to make a splash.

“Newport is special, and we’re looking forward to a great week of sailing,” Wilkins says. “It’s a blend of competition and a fantastic vacation spot.”

The racing kicks off Wednesday, September 11, with the fleet trimmed down on Saturday for three final double-point races. Expect action on Narragansett Bay, with ideal late-summer weather setting the stage for an unforgettable regatta.

Competing Teams:

• American Yacht Club – Rye, N.Y.
• Austin Yacht Club – Austin, Texas
• Bay Waveland Yacht Club – Bay St. Louis, Miss.
• Bayview Yacht Club – Detroit, Mich.
• California Yacht Club – Marina del Rey, Calif.
• Carolina Yacht Club – Charleston, S.C.
• Charleston Yacht Club – Charleston, S.C.
• Chicago Yacht Club – Chicago, Ill.
• Corinthian Yacht Club – Marblehead, Mass.
• Corinthian Yacht Club of San Francisco – Tiburon, Calif.
• Eastern Yacht Club – Marblehead, Mass.
• Edgewater Yacht Club – Cleveland, Ohio
• Fort Worth Yacht Club – Fort Worth, Texas
• Lakewood Yacht Club – Seabrook, Texas
• Larchmont Yacht Club – Larchmont, N.Y.
• Little Traverse Yacht Club – Harbor Springs, Mich.
• Mystic River Mudheads Sailing Association – West Mystic, Conn.
• New York Yacht Club – New York, N.Y. & Newport, RI
• Newport Harbor Yacht Club – Newport Beach, Calif.
• Pensacola Yacht Club – Pensacola, Fla.
• San Diego Yacht Club – San Diego, Calif.
• Seattle Yacht Club – Seattle, Wash.
• Shelter Island Yacht Club – Shelter Island Heights, N.Y.
• Southern Yacht Club – New Orleans, La.
• St. Francis Yacht Club – San Francisco, Calif.
• Stamford Yacht Club – Stamford, Conn.
• Storm Trysail Club – Larchmont, N.Y.
• The San Francisco Yacht Club – Belvedere, Calif.

West Nile Virus on the Rise: Rhode Island Confirms More Cases, Including in Newport County

Like Newport Buzz? We depend on the generosity of readers like you who support us, to help with our mission to keep you informed and entertained with local, independent news and content. We truly appreciate your trust and support!

Share this:

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

(781) 585-4453

[email protected]

Caroline “Bonnie” Powell

Saturday, september 7, 2024.

• Tribute Wall
• Send Flowers

Obituary of Caroline “Bonnie” Powell

It is with heavy hearts the family of Caroline “Bonnie” Powell announce her peaceful passing on September 7th at the age of 83.

Bonnie was the devoted mother of three children and proud grandmother to seven beloved grandchildren, all of whom were the center of her world. She found immense joy being a mother and grandmother. Bonnie is survived by her husband Verne Powell of Duxbury, son Scott and Barbara Powell of Sandwich, N.H., daughter Sarah and Mark Keating of Duxbury and son Alan Powell of Hanover. In addition to her cherished grandchildren, she leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.

Born in Brookline to a large and loving Irish Catholic family Bonnie grew up as one of ten siblings, a tight knit bond that shaped her lifelong commitment to family and friends. She spent her early years living in Brookline. Graduating from St Mary’s High School she went on to work at Star Market where she met Verne. They married in September 1962 and a few months later moved to Fontainebleau, France where Verne served as a U.S. Army officer. Their oldest son was born in France in 1964. After several years on the continent, they returned to the States, settled in Natick and had two more children. A position with Shaw’s supermarkets brought them south to their forever home in Duxbury in 1978.

Bonnie loved everything about Duxbury and was blessed with many lifelong friends from the Newcomers club, the Massachusetts Food Association, Pilgrim Tennis club and the Duxbury Yacht Club. Her sense of giving extended far beyond her own family. As a dedicated volunteer she gave countless hours to her community through PTA, sports boosters and Holy Family Church. In her leisure time she enjoyed tennis, golf, gardening and watching hockey. A lifelong Boston Bruins and Bobby Orr fan one of her most special memories was hosting Bobby Orr at her home for the Duxbury High School Hockey team end of season party. She was a skilled knitter and crafter. Often creating thoughtful handmade gifts that brought warmth to her family and friends. Staying active in retirement she enjoyed travel throughout Europe and many winters on Sanibel Island, Florida.

Her legacy is one of kindness, generosity and a deep devotion to family. Her love will live on in the hearts of those she touched, and she will be missed greatly by all who loved her. May she rest in peace, surrounded by the love of her family and the grace of her faith.

Visitation will be held at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St. Kingston, MA on Thursday, September 12th from 4:00-7:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, September 13that 10:00 am at Holy Family Church, 601 Tremont StreetDuxbury. Burial will follow at the Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at danafarber.jimmyfund.org or the Brigham and Womens Hospital Cardiac Center at giving.brighamandwomens.org.

In Loving Memory

(781) 585-4453

216 Main Street

Kingston, MA 02364 116 Main Street Carver, MA 02330

For all mailings please use:

P O Box 325

Kingston, MA  02364

Home About Us

Funeral Planning Our Services Pre-Planning Resources Obituaries

Looking for something you can't find? We make it easy to get the answers you need.  Please feel free to  contact us  at anytime

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

Suzanne Marie Irwin

1961 - 2022.

• Tribute Wall
• Service Information

Memorial Visitation at Funeral Home

Obituary of Suzanne Marie Irwin

Suzanne Marie Irwin, 61, of Charlestown, Mass., passed away peacefully on August 17, 2022, after a vigilant 13-month battle with Glioblastoma.

Suzie (Sue) was born July 3, 1961, in Bronxville, New York, the third of six children of William and Marianne Irwin. Suzie grew up in Larchmont, NY and attended Mamaroneck High School. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in economics from Stonehill College (Mass.) in 1983, then obtained an MBA from Iona College (NY) in 1989.

After working in New York City for several years, Sue’s financial career led her to Boston in 1995, where she joined Adviser Investments during its first year of operations. She worked as a portfolio administrator, a securities analyst and as Adviser Investments’ operations manager prior to becoming a portfolio executive and Vice President in 2001. In 2021, she was honored in Boston Magazine for the seventh time as a Five Star Wealth Manager. 

When not working, Suzie loved traveling, skiing, tennis, golf and boating with her many friends and family. In recent years, she became an avid pickleball player at her vacation home in Naples, FL. Suzie loved spending time with her family, especially her three nieces and five nephews to whom she was a wonderful aunt.  

Suzie’s enthusiasm for travel took her around the world. Friends and family would frequently ask “Where’s Waldo?” as she was constantly exploring different parts of the world with her many friends. One of her all-time favorite places to visit was Manor Park, located in her childhood town of Larchmont. Suzie was also a longtime member of the Larchmont Yacht Club and a parishioner of Saint Francis de Sales Parish in Charlestown, MA.

Suzie is survived by her parents William and Marianne Irwin; siblings Mary Kay Chandler, Bill Jr. (Maribeth) Irwin, Jennifer (Matt) Filos, Liz (Ben) Schlosser, Tim (Ann) Irwin; nieces Theresa, Marykate and Kerry; nephews Chris, Tim, Brad, Ryan, and Will; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Suzie will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

visitation will be Friday August 26th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at John J Fox Funeral Home, 2080 Boston Post Road Larchmont, New York 10538. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for her on Saturday August 27th at 11 AM at St. Augustine Church, 18 Cherry Ave, Larchmont, NY 10538. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Suzanne Irwin's name to Swim Across America @ http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/goto/SuzanneIrwin or Cancer Commons @ donate. cancercommons.org  (in designation section please include Suzanne Irwin).