Steve Henkel >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

Stephen Charles (Steve) Henkel, creator, sailor, and polymath, died December 14, 2022 at the age of 89 in Sarasota, FL.

Steve grew up in Shorter Hills, NJ and attended Princeton College (BS in mechanical engineering) and Rutgers University (MBA). He married his college or university sweetheart, Carol Pippitt, in 1955, and from 1955 to 1984 labored as engineer, administrator, and company specialist, mostly in New York Metropolis.

For the duration of this period of time, he commenced writing for exciting for a number of sailing publications and in 1972 revealed his very first book, Bikes. In 1984, with two companions, he established Sailor magazine.

When that project ended, Steve grew to become a total-time freelance writer and illustrator, with hundreds of articles or blog posts to his credit and a few supplemental publications: Boating For Less (1987), Boat Trailers and Tow Cars (1991), and The Sailor’s E book of Modest Cruising Sailboats (2010).

Among the publications he wrote for have been Yachting Journal (the place for a time he wrote the Gadgets & Gilhickies column), Yacht Racing/Cruising (now Sailing Planet), for whom he did an illustrated column termed Fascinating Boats, Sail Journal, Smaller Boat Journal, Sensible Sailor, and WoodenBoat Journal.

After transferring to Darien, CT in 1961, Steve and Carol grew to become avid sailors, a enthusiasm they shared with their two sons. They were active users of Noroton Yacht Club and Steve served on the boards of the Blue Jay Course Association and the Junior Yacht Racing Association of Lengthy Island Audio.

Just after going to Florida in 1991, Steve and Carol had been members of Venice Sailing Squadron and Sarasota Sailing Squadron and Steve served on the board of the Venice Youth Boating Association.

In retirement, Steve remained lively in many pursuits, together with genealogical exploration, portray, composing a historical novel, and model sailboat racing at Sunnyside Village, the retirement group in which Steve and Carol lived commencing in 2003. He was appreciated by good friends and loved ones for his intellect and humor.

He was predeceased by his wife of 64 several years, Carol, and is survived by two sons Charlie (Kokyo) Henkel and his wife Kerstin (Shoho) Kuebast of Muir Beach, CA, and Laird Henkel and his wife Kriss Neuman of Corralitos, CA.

Products and services will be private. Donations may perhaps be made to the Sunnyside Basis, 5201 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota, FL 34232.