Boats-Nautical-039
Welcome to the memorial page for

Scott Graham

March 14, 1947 ~ August 16, 2016 (age 69) 69 Years Old
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Message from Ann Rundle
January 3, 2023 5:58 PM
My brother Rick and I were sharing memories of when we were quite younger, and first visits to a restaurant in Lincoln Park, called RJ Grunts ... My rother reminded me that all my dinner companions from that meal were up in heaven ... I guess it totally escaped me that Scott had passed away, gosh more than six years ago ... December 1978, dinner at RJ Grunts with Eric Schlageter, Scott Graham, and Curt Hazard.

Scott had the most inventive ideas, he told us a great tip about using a spatula to get the very last out of a peanut butter jar - I use it to this day. He was also perfect to jump out of a Curt's olive drab Pinto and direct him into the most difficult of parking spots ...

Scott was a great guy, treated a couple of young kids fresh out of Michigan's Naval Architecture program with plenty of kindness and respect. He was pretty cool. Sorry to have finally realized he is gone from here, on onto heaven ...

AnnR
Message from Jodie and George Billings
August 26, 2016 6:27 PM
Dear Susan and Denny, and your family:

I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Scott, but I can tell from what I see here and from how much you loved him that he was a special person. i will have to miss the service Tuesday night because I will be in Oklahoma City for the memorial service of my Uncle and won't return until Wednesday. My love and prayers are with you in your grief. I have made a donation in his name to the L'Dor V'Dor fund. Safe travels and soft landings. Much Love, Jodie
Message from Liz Burgess
August 25, 2016 4:45 PM
Scott brighten my day many times asking to speak "with his bride." I'm so very sorry for your loss.
Message from Dick Rath
August 25, 2016 2:09 PM
I first met Scott while he was writing the deck hardware specifications for Chocolate Chips and immediately became an admirer of his design work and the broad knowledge he possessed in his chosen trade; however what I remember most about him was that he was a true gentleman, one that freely and often praised his competition. He was always accessible, openminded, and helpful to any that sought it. I've long considered Scott a friend and am so sorry to learn of his death, especially at such a young age.

You will be missed Scott.
Message from April Mazzoni
August 25, 2016 1:11 PM
Monica,

We were so saddened to learn of Scott's passing. I'm glad we were able to meet him and have a nice visit with you both after you moved back to Muskegon. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
candle blue
A candle was lit by April and Ted Mazzoni on August 25, 2016 1:02 PM
Message from Stacy Saari
August 25, 2016 8:59 AM
Monica, I am so sorry to hear of Scott's passing. I am thinking of you and sending love your way. Miss you!
Message from Kylie Beardslee (Dunn)
August 25, 2016 8:58 AM
I'm sorry to hear of Scott's passing. You all are in my thoughts and prayers!
candle beige
A candle was lit by Kylie on August 25, 2016 8:55 AM
Message from John Bergan
August 24, 2016 10:03 AM
Among the many wonderful folks in the Chicago yachting scene, Scott was one of my favorites. A beaming smile and jovial demeanor, he allowed me to play office boy one summer at G&S where my love for sailboat design grew. He was a warm hearted fellow who will be missed. My best to the family during this emotional squall.
Message from Hal Whitacre
August 24, 2016 9:23 AM
I am sad to hear of Scott's passing, although I met him only once, he had a huge impact on my life. In 1977 Scott was kind enough to allow a young high school kid from Arlington Hts, IL to visit their design office in downtown Chicago. That visit and his kindness steered me to the yacht design profession Ive had for 30 years now. Thank you Scott, and rest in peace.
Message from Barry Carroll
August 24, 2016 6:53 AM
Scott was one of the fine talents and gentlemen in the marine industry. I was fortunate to know and work with him. I was also unfortunate to see his very quick boats sail away from me on the race course. Fair wind and smooth sailing Scott.
Message from Lester Mackey
August 22, 2016 12:32 PM
I will truly miss my visits with Scott. As a fellow spouse of a Terrien sister, I shared a special bond with Scott being one of the 4 "Out-Laws". I always came away smarter and more informed then when my visit started. Great memories from a great guy.
Message from Mike and Kim Theisen
August 22, 2016 2:43 PM
Sorry for your loss Monica, you have our deepest sympathy, Please take and God bless.
candle beige
A candle was lit by sander kaplan, theresa pelletier and tara kaplan on August 22, 2016 11:58 AM
Message from Mark & Lynda Goldberg
August 21, 2016 5:43 PM
Scott and I grew up together, Scott in Morton Grove, and I in Wilmette, Illinois. When we got together, we would build and fly model airplanes, swim and sail on Lake Michigan, and have family dinners (Faye's carrot cake recipe is still one of my favorite recipes); and, they were particularly proud of their clone of the Big Boy Hamburger. In High School, Scott started playing the Baritone Ukelele, and got me hooked. We played many hours together in their downstairs den with wallpaper of lp album covers, and graduated to other instruments. Its how I learned to play and enjoy folk music. Through family moves, and going off to school, we lost touch for many years, but got back in touch much later. It was like no time had passed. After anothershorter gap, I shared with Scott my recent project of building a new guitar. He was impressed with it and asked if I would help him with constructing a model of a device he had been contemplating and designing for years for reefing sails on sailboats. Scott was immersed in bone marrow issues, and the project was a great diversion giving him something to look forward to each day. He got to see the device completed and fully functional. The project got us very close again, and I'm glad we were able to work on it together. Scott lived his life through infinite details and perfection, learned, sometimes with difficultly from his father, William. Monica is the angel Scott found who provided selfless, loving support to Scott. We wish Monica, family, and friends you our sincerest condolences. Mark & Lynda
Message from Alan Andrews
August 20, 2016 10:20 AM
Condolences to Scott's family and friends. Scott and I met through racing MORC boats in the 1980's. We were competitors and both designed boats for different clients. We both had our share of winners, but more importantl Scott was a great guy in addition to being a sharp designer. I enjoyed the conversations we had over a meal or post race beverage when we would see each other at several of the International Championships.
Message from Tom Magno
August 20, 2016 9:48 AM
When I was stationed in Newport, I met Scott while doing the thing we both loved, flying model RC airplanes. We became good friends after only a short time. I left Newport after one year, but Scott always kept in touch. I am very sad to learn he has passed. Fair winds and following seas...
Message from Fred Horwitz
August 19, 2016 4:23 PM
My most sincere condolences. Scott will always be remembered by me. The designer of my boat, Pinocchio, one the best MORC boats ever. It was truly great knowing him and sailing with him. A great sailboat designer and a great guy.

Fred Horwitz
Message from Betsy York
August 19, 2016 6:44 PM
Scott welcomed me into the family as another "outlaw" the first time i met him and that greeting bonded me to him from then on. It was always a pleasure to visit Scott and Monica be it in Rhode Island or Michigan. His love of Monica and all their animals was evident in how he talked. He was warm, smart, funny, and friendly and i will miss him.
candle beige
A candle was lit by Neil and Laura Graham on August 19, 2016 1:48 PM
Message from Gary Shrout
August 19, 2016 1:29 PM
Scott was my brother from another mother. From nine years old on, he was the brother I never had. His first visit to my house was when we were both barely nine, and he came over to watch some Saturday morning sci-fi kid's show, so we hit it off immediately. Grade school, middle school, high school, first run at college, military (different services), and on through the rest of life. We rode everywhere you could get to in Morton Grove on our bicycles, and if I wasn't home, usually I was at Scott's house. Faye was my second Mom, and I think I ate at his house almost as often as at my own. Likewise, for Scott at our house. He was the best man at my wedding, and I was the same at his. After years of living on different parts of the planet, for my last active duty Navy tour, my family wound up being stationed in Newport, RI, where Scott and Monica had moved some years earlier when he took the job at US Sailing. While we were there, Scott helped with a middle school project for my son, Chris, who needed to make a diorama related to ancient times. My son wanted to make a ship model based on ancient Greece, and Scott used his superb, and well-honed, naval architect skills to blow up a drawing of a Greek Trireme that Chris found in Scientific American. From that small drawing, Scott made actual plans for a balsa model, much as pre-industrial shipbuilders worked from drawings to models to real ships. We left out the real ship part though.... Scott was at that time actively involved in flying radio controlled aircraft models, so making a ship model was a little different, and he eagerly dove in. My son and I spent several weeks in Scott's basement workshop, the three of us building a marvelous two-foot long model with nearly a hundred oars, masts, shields, decking, planking...everything. Not quite museum quality, but almost. A pretty amazing model. We mounted it on a styrofoam base painted to look like the sea, so it qualified as a diorama. When my son and I took the model into the classroom the morning it was due, the teacher's eyes opened quite wide. He looked at me, looked at my son, looked at the Trireme, looked at me again, looked at my son again, looked at the Trireme again, and said "OK, I get it. Now get that thing out of here before it gets wrecked." So, home it went with us, and my son got an A+ on the project. That ship model sits in a place of great honor in my study, typical of the intelligence, workmanship and passion that Scott put into the things he loved doing. I have been keeping it for my son until he finds the right place of honor for it in his home, but now that it is the remaining tangible representation of Scott's place in my life, I think I'm hanging on to it for awhile longer. I should stop now before I short out the keyboard. They don't handle water very well.
Message from Jodi (Cohn), Rich & Ryan Kaplan-cousins from Chicago
August 19, 2016 12:21 PM
I grew up not too far away from Scott and his family prior to him getting married and we would go over for Sunday dinners. He was always a quiet man, smart & witty, who always sat back in a chair and took everything in. His wedding was one I will always remember, as I was just in grade school, but my brother and my cousins (his niece and nephew) had a blast. There were many years I did not see him after he moved. I was fortunate to see a few times over the past several years when he would come to visit his sister in Austin. He gave me such a fright the first time though when he said hello & this big booming voice emerged. I thought it was his father & we all had a laugh. He will be deeply missed. Our thoughts, love and hugs go out to all of his family and friends.
Message from Pat Arnow
August 19, 2016 11:05 AM
Many sympathies. I remember Scott from when we were kids in Chicago. He was always nice to this younger cousin--I had a little crush on him. A good kid turned into a good man.
Message from Kim Roberts
August 18, 2016 10:25 PM
I met Scott as the builder of Heart of America. Merrifield - Roberts, Inc. built the yacht in Bristol, Rhode Island. Time passes, MRI no longer exists. I am the most senior one at the table now, but I remember the days when I was the most junior and you got to meet great people showing you the way. Thanks Scott for letting me help you.
Message from Cecilia Draminski
August 18, 2016 3:13 PM
In June of 1999 I was interviewing for a job. Hanging on the wall of the office behind my potential employers desk was a framed print of the Heart of America Challenge. I really wasn't qualified for the job, but at the end of the interview I was asked if he should know anything else about me. I pointed to the poster and said my brother-in-law designed that sailboat. He peppered me with questions about the boat, and then my interviewer told me he purchased his sailboat from Scott & Eric. That added another hour onto the interview! I walked out of there with the job. I'll always remember the look on Scott's face and how hard he was laughing as I retold that story to him. He was a wonderful man and I will cherish my memories of him.
Message from Gail McCarthy Turluck
August 18, 2016 2:28 PM
So saddened to learn of Scott's passing. The heady days in the Chicago area when G&S were tearing things up was my developing time. That their designs have stood the test of time and remain popular is a testament to brilliance. My condolences to whom he loved and those who loved him. Sail on, Scott.
Message from Troy Scharlow
August 18, 2016 1:44 PM
I am saddened to hear of Scott's passing. I met him while I was a teenager, working in a boat yard in Ohio. Scott and Eric had designed a boat (Hat Trick). I enjoyed reconnecting and having lunch with Scott last summer here in west Michigan.

It didn't take long, while talking with Scott, to realize how brilliant of a man he was. It was great to share some old stories with him.

Fair winds...
Message from Jim Gretzky
August 18, 2016 12:32 PM
Sarah and I are saddened by Scott's passing. He was a true gentleman who always brightened my day whenever I spoke with him. Back in the Heart of America days, Scott and our co-designer Duncan MacLane were the voices of reason during the long campaign. He had a gift for finding the right solution to most every problem he faced.
Scott was truly a kind and gentle person who will be missed by all who knew him. Sail on old friend!
Message from Nicholas Schlageter
August 18, 2016 12:19 PM
I am sorry to hear of Scott's passing. I remember him from the time he and Eric worked together in Chicago. I also appreciate that he made the trip to speak at Eric's memorial service in Chicago.
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