Eight Bells for Star stalwart, Harry Walker

by Lynn Fitzpatrick on 29 Oct 2008 Harry Walker wasn't around for quite as long as the Star Class but he was the most active Exalted Grand Master than any class could have.

It will probably be a while before we figure out how many Star boats Walker had available for friends to use and and charter, but it was a nice sized fleet.

At 87 years young, he participated in Zag Masters Regatta and Bacardi Cup Regatta this past year and won the Exalted Grand Master title this year at the Zag Masters with two-time Olympic Gold Medal Star skipper, Mark Reynolds, crewing for him. A broken arm landed him on the Race Committee boat rather than at the helm of a Star for this year's Bacardi Cup, the first Bacardi that he hadn't steered in decades.

Among Harry's other pastimes were following the ups and downs of baseball's spring training in Vero Beach and treating friends to some of the tastiest and juiciest grapefruits from his Sunsweet Fruits groves. Always the gentleman, he leaves behind his wife, Thea, and an extended family that includes Star sailors from around the world.

From Melinda Berge:

On October 23-2008, the Star Class' Rear Commodore Harry Walker, of Miami, Florida passed away at 87 years of age.

He had been a life member of the class since 1971 and served the class as international secretary for 13 years (1989-2002). He also was awarded the 2001 Harry Nye Trophy which recognizes an individual's outstanding contributions to the ISCYRA.

Walker earned his silver star winning the 1983 South American Championship sailed in Venezuela. and also competed in 17 World Championships. He was a member of many fleets including Wilmette Harbor (1962-1963), São Paulo (1964-1968) (he lived in Brazil while managing a pulp paper plantation)., Sandpiper Bay (1977-1995) and Biscayne Bay (1976, 1996-2008). In all, he sailed the Star for 71 years which included 33 Bacardi Cups.

Walker also worked in promoting the Star Class. He was actively involved with the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, USA and instrumental in getting the museum to set up a Star Class exhibit. He generously donated boats to college programs. His boat Bingo VII, #7444, went to the M.I.T. sailing program and Bingo IV, #6567, in which he won his Silver Star, to the Yale sailing program.

He often sailed with Mark Reynolds in the Florida Masters Regatta, and in 2008 they finished 18th overall and Walker won the Exalted Grand Masters Award.

The boats he owned were numbers 4500, 4802, 5640, 6200, 6567, 7137, 7444, and 8000 - all named Bingo.

Walker was raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut where his father owned Bridgeport Ice and Coal Company. He graduated from Yale where was on the rowing team, and served in the military during World War II. His mother's family owned Union Camp Paper Company which led to him managing the pulp plantation in Brazil.

He was married to Alethea Kunhardt in 1950 New York City with Prescott S. Bush Jr. (brother of future US President George Herbert Walker Bush) serving as an usher. He is survived by his wife Thea and two sons and a daughter.