Passes Away News

Seafarers International Union President Emeritus Michael Sacco died December 28, 2023, in St. Louis, surrounded by family members. He was 86 years old and passed away from natural causes.Mike was the longest-serving president in SIU history, having led the organization from 1988 until his retirement in February 2023, a period spanning nearly 35 years.The Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters, AFL-CIO, represents professional United States merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels in the deep sea…

Capt. Brian McAllister, a prominent member of the American maritime industry and a true New York area maritime industry icon, has passed away.The following was posted on the mcallistertowing.com website:"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Captain. Brian, who changed the future of McAllister Towing when he bought the company with his brothers and cousins, passed away peacefully this morning at his home. We ask that you keep the McAllister family in your thoughts and hearts during this very difficult time."Capt.

William A. O’Neil, Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has died in the United Kingdom, aged 93.O’Neil was elected Secretary-General of the IMO for a first term of Office beginning in 1990, a second term beginning in 1994, a third term beginning in 1998 and a further two-year term from 2002 to 31 December 2003. He was the second longest serving Secretary-General of IMO.Current IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim expressed his sincere condolences to the Canadian Government…

Seaboard Corporation announced Monday that its president, CEO and chairman of the board Steven J. Bresky passed away suddenly. The group said its board of directors expects to name Bresky's successor in the near future.Steve was the third generation Bresky to lead Seaboard in its 102-year history, following in the footsteps of his father H. Harry Bresky and grandfather and company founder Otto Bresky. He had been president, CEO and chairman of the board since 2006. Among the agribusiness conglomerate's group of companies is Seaboard Marine…

Admiral James Steele Gracey, USCG (retired), 17th Commandant of the Coast Guard, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2020, in Falls Church, Va., at the age of 92.Born in Newton, Mass. in 1927, Adm. Gracey graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1949. Adm. Gracey was a 1956 graduate of the Harvard Graduate School where he earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration.His career included diverse tours both ashore and afloat, including Commanding Officer, LORAN Station Ocean Cape…

Sarkis Tatigian, who began his Navy career at the age of 19 during the Second World War, passed away earlier this week, leaving behind a nearly 78-year legacy of service to the Department of Defense.At the time of his death, Tatigian, the longest serving civil servant in the history of the DoD, was serving as Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Small Business Advocate.“Mr. Tatigian truly lived a life dedicated to advocacy and the service of others,” said NAVSEA Executive Director, James Smerchansky.

Emiliano González, President of MSC Cruises Spain passed away on March 25 in Madrid at the age of 68.González joined MSC Cruises Spain as Commercial Director in 2002, becoming Country Manager in 2004. He restlessly worked to turn MSC Cruises into one of the country’s most popular cruise lines and witnessed the entry into service of the 17 innovative cruise ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet. In 2017 he moved on to become President of MSC Cruises Spain. Leaving his commercial responsibilities aside…

At approximately 6:20 AM this morning, the Office of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings Released the Following Statement:At approximately 2:30 A.M. on Thursday October 17, 2019, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) passed away at Gilchrist Hospice Care, a Johns Hopkins affiliate, due to complications concerning longstanding health challenges. More details will be forthcoming.The energetic Cummings was best known in maritime circles for his time spent as chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation where…

Robert “Bob” Shrewsbury, founder of Seattle-based tug and barge services provider Western Towboat, has passed away at the age of 94.Shrewsbury started Western Towboat along Ballard’s waterfront in 1948, operating with just one small tug the, ND Tobey, and working in the early days as business agent, captain and engineer.Today, the family owned company is run by Shrewsbury’s son, Bob Jr., with grandchildren Russell, Ross and Kristin, and has grown its fleet to 22 tugs and seven barges.

Amy Beavers, USCG Licensed Master, Academic Principal and VP of Regulatory Compliance at Maritime Professional Training has passed away on November 5. Services will be held on Saturday, November 12, at 11:30 a.m. at Rio Vista Community Church, 880 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33316. Longtime maritime training expert and provider Amy Beavers was widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable stakeholders in the industry when it came to regulatory matters, especially where it intersected the U.S. Coast Guard's credentialing department. Notably, she served as Vice Chair of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), but to most of the mariners who came through MPT for training, she was simply regarded as the "go-to" person for answers.

Adm. Robert E. Kramek, former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, has died October 20, 2016. Kramek served as the Coast Guard's 20th commandant from 1994 through 1998, during which time he significantly expanded the Coast Guard's global reach and influence as commandant, including directing active participation in the combined service/international anti-narcotic smuggling operations Frontier Shield and Gulf Shield, along with other law enforcement operations. He led the Coast…

Aaron W. Hendry, husband, father and grandfather, as well as Florida business leader, died today at the age of 80. Aaron passed away peacefully in his home after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Aaron leaves behind his wife Barbara, six children and three grandchildren. “Aaron Hendry was a wonderful businessman, and a giant in the maritime industry,” said Dennis Manelli, ‎General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer at Hendry Marine. “He grew up in the maritime community and had great empathy and loyalty to his employees. Aaron’s father, Captain F.M.

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) William "Bill" H. Plackett died peacefully the evening of March 4. He was 78. Plackett became the sixth MCPON Oct. 1, 1985. He relieved Billy C. Sanders and held the job for three years before Duane R. Bushey assumed duties in September 1988. Plackett was born in Paxton, Illinois, and joined the Navy at the age of 19 in 1956. He attended radarman "A" school in Norfolk, Virginia and was assigned to the Naval Control of Shipping Office in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. He served tours aboard Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet embarked upon amphibious force command ship USS Mount McKinley (AGC 7), and Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy.

Ed Davis, an industry veteran and longtime employee at Furuno USA, Inc., passed away on April 30. Ed was Furuno USA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager since September 1992, working closely with dealers who he not only called customers, but his friends. Prior to working at Furuno, Ed had his own marine manufacturer’s rep company, where he represented Datamarine International, Audiovox and Shakespeare Electronics. He first entered into the maritime industry in 1987 when he was hired as the Senior Product Planner/Buyer for Boat America Corp.

Twin Disc, Inc. announced the passing of Michael E. Batten, Chairman of Twin Disc, Inc. He died in his sleep on the morning of May 6, 2015 at the age of 75. Batten worked at Twin Disc since June 1, 1970 and was fully devoted to the company and his family. His positive impression on the countless coworkers he worked with during his more than four decades of service at Twin Disc, as well as the greater community of his lifelong home of Racine, Wisconsin, will not be forgotten. Batten will be remembered for his hard work, dedication, intelligence, honesty and fairness. The board of directors met on May 7, 2015 and appointed David B. Rayburn as Chairman.

Jack W Fisher, president of JW Fishers Mfg. passed away at home after a brief illness on February 20, 2015. He was 73 years old. The JW Fishers business was started because Fisher, an avid diver, needed an underwater metal detector to use on a salvage project in the mid 1960s. He discovered there was no such device available. Over the next several years he designed and constructed his own underwater metal detector. JW Fishers Mfg. was formed and Jack began building and selling his detectors to other divers.

Jacob Stolt-Nielsen, 83, passed away today in the company of his family at his home in Oslo. An entrepreneur and visionary of boundless enthusiasm and energy, Jacob Stolt-Nielsen founded Parcel Tankers, Inc. in 1959 and pioneered the global trade for liquid chemicals, ultimately building what is today the world's largest chemical tanker company, Stolt Tankers. worldwide. In 1972, he founded Stolt Sea Farm, a pioneer in salmon farming, which is recognised today as a leader in high-tech aquaculture, focusing on sole, turbot and sturgeon for caviar. A year later, in 1973, he established Stolt-Nielsen Seaway A/S to provide diving and subsea services to the offshore oil and gas industry in the North Sea…

A Founding Father of Signal Passes Away (December 12, 1940 – January 1, 2015). It is with great sadness that the Managers of Signal Mutual Indemnity Association Ltd. must report the unexpected passing of John Chamberlain at the age of 74. A founding father of Signal, John began work for Charles Taylor in 1969; moving to the United States in the early 1980s to work with a leading maritime consulting and claims adjusting firm, Lamorte Burns, on the early development of the business which would eventually become Signal Mutual.

“Congressman Jim ‪‎Oberstar was a friend and mentor. He was also a brilliant and kind man. No one knew more about transportation policy than him. Just last Wednesday, I talked with him about strategies to pass a good transportation bill. I will miss him. President Obama said of Oberstar's passing, "Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Congressman Jim Oberstar. Jim cared deeply about the people of Minnesota, devoting his 36 years of service to improving America's infrastructure, creating opportunity for hardworking Minnesotans and building a strong economy for future generations of Americans.

IMO Secretary-General Emeritus Dr. C.P. Srivastava, KCMG, Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritme Organization (IMO),  has died in Italy, aged 93. IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu expressed his sincere condolences to the Indian Government and Dr. C.P. Srivastava’s remaining family, and also the condolences of the entire IMO membership and staff. ”It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Dr. C.P. Srivastava, the longest-serving Secretary-General of the Organization,” Mr. Sekimizu said. ”Dr. C.P. Dr.

Captain Robert M. Cusick Jr., a merchant marine officer who survived the wreck of the SS Marine Electric and then helped lead a major reform of US maritime safety standards, died peacefully in his sleep in New Hampshire on Thursday, September 12, 2013, according to Carol Cusick, his daughter. He was 90 years old. Against the advice of many friends and colleagues, Captain Cusick testified at a US Marine Board of Investigation and detailed how inspectors and company officials overlooked numerous holes in the hatches…

Heidmar reported the unexpected passing of Marc La Monte of Wilton, Connecticut. Mr. La Monte passed away while on a business flight in Europe on the morning of October 14th. La Monte was a widely respected member of the international shipping industry for 27 years. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Heidmar Inc. from April 2012. Prior to becoming CEO, La Montehad been the Managing Director of Heidmar’s VLCC tanker pool, Seawolf Tankers. La Monte spent 16 years at Overseas Shipping Group in various positions, including vice president of OSG’s LNG tanker business.

New England Ropes, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the TEUFELBERGER Group, said that the company’s original co- founder, Herb Repass, passed away recently in Vero Beach Florida. Repass co-founded New England Ropes, Inc. in New Bedford, Mass., with his friend and associate David Aigler in 1967. Repass served as President and chief designer of specialty ropes that were manufactured by the company for yachting, safety and rescue, arborist, mountaineering, lariats for cowboys, and Navy and Coast Guard operations. Herb, Dave and his son Randy also collaborated to sell rope for boating on the west coast, spawning West Marine. Many of the rope designs developed by Repass are still in use today, combining superior design with the use of today’s fiber advancements.