Frederick Sturges III ’36

Fred played hockey and lacrosse before leaving college during freshman year. He tried banking, but his love for boats and the sea led him to join the crew of the Joseph Conrad, a full-rigged sailing ship on which he sailed for a year.

Boat-building was his calling. He and two partners started their business in a vacant power plant in Saybrook, Conn. After commanding a subchaser during the war, Fred bought out his partners and moved his business to Old Lyme. He built Lightning and Blue Jay sailboats for 30 years.  

Fred and his late wife, Betty, enjoyed many happy days cruising the high seas well into their 80s. Fred was a major benefactor of worthy causes, particularly land trusts, and gave much of his own land to Connecticut.

He is survived by his daughter, Priscilla Trlica, and three stepsons, John, David, and Richard Cooper. We send them our regrets and our wish that this fine man could have spent four years with us.