*Obituaries
Longtime president of yacht yard Merrill-Stevens dies
By Lucy Chabot Reed An icon of the South Florida shipyard and brokerage industry died on Sunday, April 5. Fred Kirtland, previously president and general manager of Merrill-Stevens shipyard in…
Chef Thierry Goulard dies over Valentine’s Day in St. Barts
By Graham Barnes Thierry was a larger-than-life character with a heart so kind and full of love. He appreciated every second of every day, always smiling and cracking jokes. Telling…
Drew Cooney, Lauderdale Propeller Service owner, dies
By Dorie Cox Longtime Lauderdale Propeller Service owner and president Drew Cooney died on Feb. 7 “after a very long three-year battle with cancer,” according to his sons. He was…
Longtime Derecktor parts manager Richard ‘Dickie’ Doolin dies
By Dorie Cox Richard Doolin, known as Dickie, the former parts manager at Derecktor Dania, died on Jan. 29. He had been a familiar face at the yard during his…
Former Palmer Johnson head dies
Palmer Johnson’s Martin Kelsey III, known in the yachting industry as Mike Kelsey Jr., died on Jan. 4 of cancer. He was 57. Mr. Kelsey began work with the company…
Surveyor, former yacht engineer Mark Webb dies
By Dorie Cox An engineer and a yacht surveyor, Mark Webb died after complications from triple by-pass heart surgery in Fort Lauderdale. He was 62. For more than two decades,…
Veteran captain Achim Fischer dies in car accident
By Dorie Cox Capt. Achim Fischer died in Antibes on Nov. 26 as a result of a car accident. He was 72. A veteran captain of 30 years, Capt. Fischer…
Cable Marine, Boat Owners Warehouse founder Elmer Strauss dies
By Dorie Cox From boatyards to retail stores, Elmer Strauss built a collection of businesses that helped change the face of the yacht industry in Fort Lauderdale. Since the 1970s,…
Former yacht mate, chef Townsend Pillsbury dies
By Dorie Cox Former yacht mate and chef Townsend Pillsbury died of cancer on July 12. She was 62. Capt. Andy McKee has served as captain of the 81-foot Broward…
Yacht designer Claudette Bonville dies
Award-winning yacht designer Claudette K. Bonville, of Fort Lauderdale-based Claudette Bonville Associates (CBA), died July 16 after an eight-year battle with breast cancer, according to a company announcement. She was 66.…
