Prominent Industry Leaders Lost in 2010
MarEx remembers those that passed away this year and reflects on their contributions and service to the maritime industry.
Colonel John Bellis O’Dowd, 53
January 26, 2010
United States Army retired and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, Class of 1978. Colonel O’Dowd most recently served as Chief of Staff, US Military Staff Committee, J5/JCS, US Mission to the United Nations in New York as Ambassador Bolton’s Military Advisor. He was also in command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan Engineer District from July 2004 to July 2005. Read more
Lawrence Robert “Larry” Glosten, 91
February 22, 2010
Naval Architect and Founder of The Glosten Associates, a prominent Seattle naval architecture firm. Mr. Glosten was a graduate of the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in 1940. He subsequently served as a Ship Repair Officer and dockmaster at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard during the early months of World War II. His naval duty included assignment to the Bureau of Ships Preliminary Design Division and, later, to the Bikini Atoll atomic weapon tests. He left active duty in 1946, but continued to served in the Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of Captain USNR in 1978.
His own consulting practice was established in 1958 as L.R. Glosten, Naval Architect & Marine Engineer. Read more
Molly Murphy Crowley, 71
March 21, 2010
Crowley board member and wife of the late Thomas Crowley, Sr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation.
Mrs. Crowley of Piedmont, CA, was also a past Portland, OR real estate mogul, philanthropist and competitive amateur golfer. She died following an illness surrounded by her family at her Indian Wells, CA vacation home. Read more
Captain Robert Royer, 54
April 22, 2010
When the 75-foot fishing vessel NORTHERN BELLE went down in the Gulf of Alaska about 50 miles south of Montague Island, Captain Robert Royer made the ultimate sacrifice. Royer saved his crew of three when he somehow managed to send out an out an emergency distress signal to the US Coast Guard. Then, seconds later, the captain fell overboard as the vessel began to capsize. According to the crewmembers, he did not surface. Read more
Michael Wasacz, 73
June 21, 2010
Former Matson Navigation Company President and CEO
Wasacz’s career with the company spanned from 1959 to 1990 and included eight years as president of Matson and two years as president of its parent company, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., of Honolulu. Read more
George Steinbrenner, 80
July 13, 2010
George Steinbrenner (July 4, 1930 – July 13, 2010) died after suffering a massive heart attack.
Mr. Steinbrenner, best known as the owner of the New York Yankees, got his start in shipping. He owned and served as COO of the Tampa, FL based American Shipbuilding Company until his death. Read more
John (Jack) W. Gilbert, 80
July 26, 2010
Mr. Gilbert was the founder and president of John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc., a Massachusetts company specializing in ship design and the overseeing of vessel construction. His hard work made his a world-renowned Naval Architect and Marine Engineer. John Gilbert also served his country in the U.S. Navy and later in the USNR. Read more
Matt Simmons, 67
August 8, 2010
Matthew R. Simmons, founder of the Ocean Energy Research Institute in Rockland, died of an apparent heart attack. Mr. Simmons was a prominent oil executive and, founder and former chairman of Simmons & Company International. He is also author of Twilight in the Desert: the Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy. Read more
David Parrot, 65
September 15, 2010
David Parrot, founder and former chief of Titan, died at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. David began his life at sea in 1945 in Newfoundland, when he moved aboard his father's schooner at the age of 6 weeks. He started Titan Towing and Salvage with just one tug and lot of hard work. David’s passion for salvage accelerated Titan Towing and Salvage into the worldwide salvage company it is today. Read more
Ben van Dam
October 4, 2010
Ben was killed suddenly in a plane crash in Cuba, along with two of his colleagues, Hans van Schuppen and Walter van den Berg. Ben worked with Damen for 36 years. In the past 15 years he served as General Manager for DAMEX where he established a strong relationship between Damen and Cuba.
Hans van Schuppen
October 4, 2010
Hans was killed suddenly in a plane crash in Cuba along with two of his colleagues, Ben van Dam and Walter van den Berg. Hans had been with Damen for the last five years and was responsible for all sales in North and Central America.
Walter van den Berg
October 4, 2010
Walter was killed suddenly in a plane crash in Cuba along with two of his colleagues, Ben van Dam and Hans van Schuppen. Walter joined Damen for a four month student internship, based at Damex, in hopes of perfecting his Spanish. He was expected to join the Damen team upon his graduation.
Maria Tsakos
October 30, 2010
Maria Tsakos, daughter of Greek shipping tycoon, Capt. Panagiotis N. Tsakos, died suddenly Saturday in her hotel in New York City.
Maria Tsakos was the only daughter of Capt. Tsakos and helped her father manage the family business, Tsakos Shipping Trading S.A. Read more
Captain Glen P. Banks, 63
December 15, 2010
Capt. Banks sailed with the U.S. Navy and on merchant ships during Vietnam and the first Gulf War. He sailed commercially for many years and in 1978 he joined MM&P. He was elected Gulf Port Vice President in 1997 and was most recently elected to three terms as the union’s Secretary-Treasurer. Read more
MarEx would also like to remember all those not mentioned above who passed away this year and all the mariners who lost their lives at sea in 2010.