A salute to Bill Garvie ....friend ...neighbor ...sailor
By age 90, Bill Garvie, left not only a legacy of fine boats, but also a generation of wooden boatbuilding "apprentices" to whom he bequeathed his treasured craft. To all who knew him, Bill was a master craftsman, a fine gentleman and a solid friend. We will all truly miss him. William Charles Garvie May 27, 1919 ~ June 5, 2009 Bill Garvie, a native Californian, noted Bay Area boat builder and deep water, wooden boat sailor, passed away surrounded by his loving family. Bill lived a long, happy and successful life; he did everything he wanted to and then some. Born in Los Angeles, Bill was raised in Eagle Rock by his parents Sylvia Hollingsworth Garvie and William Henry Garvie. About the time Bill was in third grade, he began his lifelong interest and passion for boats. Years later Bill would say to his family "I'm lucky that my avocation is my vocation." After completing Eagle Rock High School, Bill attended Glendale City College and then, just prior to World War II, was one of the limited applicants accepted into the Mare Island Naval Apprentice School, located in Vallejo. Bill was drafted into the Navy, serving in various California SEA BEEs locations. During the course of his ninety years, Bill built eighteen wooden boats for himself, many of his own design, frequently sailed the coast of California and made several Pacific crossings to Hawaii and Tahiti. One boat in particular was a 27' sloop, EMILY, which he specifically designed and built for ocean sailing. In the spring of 1975, Bill sailed EMILY to Hawaii and back, a long awaited dream. His last boat, SARAH, is a 38' gaff-rigged yawl, designed in 1880 by Thomas Clapham of Long Island, New York, which he began building when he was 80 and launched six years later at the San Rafael Yacht Harbor. Bill began his boatbuilding business at Lowrie's Yacht Harbor in 1953 on the San Rafael canal. He later established his own yard, farther up the canal, in 1960 where he designed a unique marine elevator to facilitate large vessel haul outs. In the mid-seventies he sold the boatyard and became the San Rafael Harbor Master for many years until he 'retired' and began to build SARAH. Bill was a true Renaissance man. He designed, crafted and built boats, houses from the foundation to the roof, steel dredging equipment, camping trailers and tack boxes; he loved reading engineering and boating magazines, the New York Times, Down East and a wide variety of non-fiction; he was an accomplished horseman competing in trail rides throughout the western United States on his beloved Arab, Sabre; Bill was proficient in the kitchen, widely known for his deft hand in pies and cookies and famous for his blueberry buttermilk pancakes. His family lovingly referred to him as their Energizer Bunny. He will be remembered as the embodiment of his Eagle Scout, with a Bronze Palm, achievement: to be always trustworthy, honest, courteous and accomplished in many areas. To those who were fortunate to know Bill they knew his word was his bond. Bill truly believed in a strong work ethic and was well respected among his peers. His family remembers him saying "If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well." Bill is survived by the love of his life, partner, confidante and wife of 55 years, Florence Bacon Garvie, loving daughters Ann Murray, Katie Cooper, Ellen Garvie and, Emily Morris as well as his cherished grandchildren, Duncan, Andrew, Leslie, Megan, Sarah, Mackenzie and Caitlin. Memorials in Bill's name may be made to Marin Agriculture Land Trust, Point Reyes Station, California, an organization supported by Bill and Florence since its inception. The family is planning a Celebration of Life for Bill later in the summer.
