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01-31-2017, 06:52 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
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Bob Smith - American Diesel
just received this from MTOA - RIP Bob.
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Fellow Members,
It saddens me to report that Bob Smith passed away today at a hospital in Stuart, Florida.
Bob has been well-known to the entire boating community for many years. He was the owner of American Diesel in Kilmarnock, VA and was known as the developer of the Ford Lehman marine engine. He was a regular exhibitor at TrawlerFest and boat shows, where he always promoted MTOA and brought in hundreds of members over the years.
Bob was among the members who joined MTOA in 1990, the year of our founding. He gave countless presentations at rendezvous on the care and maintenance of diesel engines and would answer any question on the subject. He was a regular contributor to the MTOA magazine, leaving us a wealth of reference information. When the first formal Board of Directors was formed in 1993, Bob served as Deputy Director of Engineering.
Bob was elected President of MTOA at the Annual Meeting in 1996. He occupied the position of Director of Propulsion Engineering at the time of his death.
Bob received the Superior Service Award for his work on the Newsletter, Rendezvous, and Membership Support. A few years ago he became one of the very few to receive the LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, which is given for highly distinguished service or achievement of lasting significance for MTOA over an extended period.
We'll let you know more when the information becomes available.
Farewell, Bob… We’ll miss you.
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01-31-2017, 06:56 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
City: Markham
Vessel Name: currently boatless
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 280
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I met Bob at last year's Trawlerfest ... a real gentleman and a huge contributor to boating. RIP Bob.
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01-31-2017, 06:57 PM
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#3
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,566
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Greetings,
Rest well Bob and sincere condolences to the family.
__________________
RTF
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01-31-2017, 07:31 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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That's sad - a real gentleman, patient, capable and full of common sense. He will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
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01-31-2017, 07:36 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,330
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Sorry to hear that. A photo of Bob as VP of Lehman appears in my Lehman Owners Manual. Best regards to the family.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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01-31-2017, 07:43 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
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A big loss to the boating community, condolences to the family.
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01-31-2017, 08:24 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Longboat Key, FL
Vessel Name: Bucky
Vessel Model: Krogen Manatee 36 North Sea
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve
A big loss to the boating community, condolences to the family.
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Well said. It's hard to imagine a greater contributor to the countless hours of pleasure boating under power as we know and appreciate it. A real gentleman, educator and leader in the industry. Fair winds, Bob.
__________________
Larry
"When life gets hard, eat marshmallows”.
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01-31-2017, 08:44 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Bayview
Vessel Name: Puffin
Vessel Model: Willard Vega 30
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,444
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He was a real gentleman. His spirit lives on in my garage, I have the engine he used for presentations and training at the Anacortes Trawlerfests. Fair winds my friend. ☀️[emoji926]
__________________
What kind of boat is that?
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01-31-2017, 10:39 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: Anacortes
Vessel Name: Salish Nomad
Vessel Model: American Tug 34
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 317
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Sad, only knew Bob by reputation, but had several very helpful conversations with Brian when we were in negotiations on an IG 32 with one of his engines.
__________________
Dave Thompson
American Tug 34-109
Home Port Anacortes Skyline & Sitka AK
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02-01-2017, 12:05 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,330
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I sent Brian an email, adding that there have been many kind tributes posted on TF.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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02-01-2017, 08:34 AM
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#11
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Veteran Member
City: Tarpon Springs, Fl.
Vessel Name: Makin Memories
Vessel Model: 1987 41' President
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 85
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I am new to the game but have heard nothing but great things about Bob Smith. My condolences to his family.
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02-01-2017, 09:26 AM
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#12
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Curmudgeon
City: Stoney Creek, MD
Vessel Name: Moon Dance
Vessel Model: 1974 34' Marine Trader Sedan
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,775
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Very sad and the end of an era.
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02-01-2017, 03:36 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BaltimoreLurker
Very sad and the end of an era.
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Yes, exactly.
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02-01-2017, 07:20 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: North Vancouver
Vessel Name: Phoenix Hunter
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 (1985)
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,877
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Wonderful fellow! Quite "salty" at times when he put down various "myths" out there. I took his course twice, because stuff like that takes a while to sink in.
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02-01-2017, 07:32 PM
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#15
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,187
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I was in what I believe was Bob's last class in October 2015. It was simply amazing the width and depth of his knowledge about not only the Lehman engines but also trawlers in general. I wish the class had been a week or longer. I joined MTOA to get the newsletter so I could read his engineering column. I want to extend my condolences to his family and wish them the best.
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02-03-2017, 07:46 AM
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#16
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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He touched so many of us. His foot print is large and he passed on to Bryan the flag. What greater tribute to a man's life than to have a son continuing his life's work.
God bless his family in this time of sadness.
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02-03-2017, 08:03 AM
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#17
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Guru
City: kemah
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,135
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I thought he passed away last year? Like sept?
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02-03-2017, 08:17 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by what_barnacles
I thought he passed away last year? Like sept?
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No, funeral services are this coming Sunday in Forked River, NJ.
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02-03-2017, 11:05 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
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He sounded like a guy who had a life well lived, which is a great accomplishment, doing what you love and having a great achievement.
Now I really don't know what is in store for us in the next life, but hopefully not just resting in piece, but extension of a new life.
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02-06-2017, 07:41 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Miami River
Vessel Name: Gotcha
Vessel Model: Grand Banks. Heritage. 54
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,988
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I met and have known Bob for many years, he was a wealth of knowledge. Our community will be diminished by his passing. My condolences to his family.
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