An Extraordinary Sailing Life G e o f f r e y
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eoffrey Michael Ewenson died unexpectedly in Annapolis, MD, on October 14, 2020 after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 50 years old. Geoff’s life was rich and active; full of boats, adventure, travel, music, laughter, and a global contingent of people whose lives were better for knowing him. He was a deeply experienced sailor, a talented coach and mentor, and a trusted friend. His smile, laughter, and an extraordinary ability to spread his joy will be deeply missed and never forgotten. The oldest son of Patsy and Geoff Ewenson, Geoff was born in 1970 in New Jersey but soon moved to Newport, RI, where his mother’s large family has been an active part of the community for generations. His father was a recent arrival from Melbourne, Australia. As a boy Geoff was a regular on the docks at the Newport America’s Cups of the 1970s and into the 1980s and at every other major event that came through town. In 1980, at the age of 10, he was an unofficial mascot for Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup defender Freedom. Geoff was constantly on the water and was an active part of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club junior sailing program. Geoff’s lifelong friend Josh Adams recalls, “Geoff was one of the most versatile youth sailors of his generation in Rhode Island, active in both dinghies and big boats.” Geoff graduated from Tabor Academy where he was co-captain of the sailing team and received the prestigious Braitmayer Award in honor of his
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outstanding contribution to the sailing team. Geoff was twice part of the team that won the High School Team Racing National Championship. After Tabor, he graduated from the University of Rhode Island where he twice sailed to All American status and was a key member of URI’s successful big boat program.
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Mary enthusiastically supported his professional sailing career, while Geoff served as Mary’s unfailing pillar as she grew her business. Together, Mary and Geoff brought out the very best in each other and their friends in a productive, warm, and honest manner. A close friend articulates what all who knew Mary and Geoff as a couple understood: “They were always an inspiration to the rest of us as a couple. So obviously in love.” The list of high-performing and championship-winning boats and programs Geoff contributed to is lengthy and spans multiple decades, classes, and oceans. He was a leader aboard the boats but never afraid of getting wet or, in his words, “grunty.” Annapolis professional sailor David Flynn (and SpinSheet columnist) sailed thousands of miles with Geoff and countless regattas including the ##Mary and Geoff celebrating Fastnet Race, Bermuda his 50th last summer on a Chesapeake charter. Races, and multiple trans-Atlantics and world championships. “Geoff was the ultimate connector “Geoff had a knack for being a part in the sailing community,” said Adams. of winning teams,” recalled Flynn. “He kept very high standards in sports“What I will remember most is the manship and was a role model to New sheer joy that he found on the water. England junior sailors.” He always managed to maintain his While competing in a frostbite regatta sense of humor… at the Severn Sailing Association in An“At the scary times he was great to napolis in 1996, Geoff met Mary Iliff. have with you. I remember a pitchMary is a third-generation Annapolis black night in the high latitudes of sailor and the co-founder and pubthe North Atlantic. Zaraffa, Skip lisher of SpinSheet. The two connected Sheldon’s Reichel Pugh 66 (now at the instantly and formed an extraordinary Naval Academy) was hurtling down bond. They were married in Annapolis 20-foot swells keeping just ahead of in 1999 and made a home together in a big low-pressure system. Geoff was the city. steering with a manic grin. As we hit