Status of Joseph Smart

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Permalink Reply by Rennie ter Kuile on March 5, 2009 at 12:11am

I sailed with Mr. Smart on the two Spring cruises after the Famous first Bermuda cruise, he was also my teacher, and I lived at Gaither House. I last saw him at the Sailloft in the summer of 1970. I too lost contact with him but never out grew the influence he made in who I have become.

John, if you receive and updates I would ask you to share them.

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Permalink Reply by James E. Geil on March 19, 2009 at 12:38pm

Joe Smart has been gone for years. But we still have his "The School and the Sea" book onboard and refer to it when telling students the history of Tabor and the Tabor Boy.

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Permalink Reply by John Crocker on March 26, 2009 at 6:42am

Many thanks for the reply. Your excellence as master of Tabor Boy surely shows. She is now, more than ever, a showpiece vessel. Congratulations on a job well done.

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Permalink Reply by James E. Geil on March 29, 2009 at 10:45am

Thanks, John. It has been a busy 25 years (beginning with Cap Glaeser's '84 refit), but all of the repairs and upgrades have paid off. Although there is still more work to do, the Tabor Boy is like a new vessel in many respects. This has made a huge difference in the safety and capabilities of the schooner, and it has significantly reduced the maintenance effort and expense. We're determined to keep up the momentum and continue to restore and improve the Tabor Boy so that she can serve the school - and the students - for many years to come.

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Permalink Reply by Chan Reis on August 17, 2009 at 3:07pm

Sometime around the time I graduated, Joe Smart left Tabor to teach at Cape Cod Community College. Beyond that I don't know what became of him. I remember the martime artiifacts and appointments he had in the living room of his Sail Loft dorm.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Smart on October 19, 2009 at 10:49pm

Gentleman,

My Uncle Joe passed away in 1988, after an brief illness. He spoke often of the Tabor Boy, and was always attempting to get me aboard his pride/joy. He taught for the years we were close at Avon Old Farms School, in Connecticut. I was an Officer for the US Coast Guard, working at the Academy in New London, CT. He used to drive down with a littany of sea tales, that were even more lucid than those of my own.

In his later years, he gave me a tour of his vast library of maritime (all) tomes, that streched from floor/tall ceiling, compeltely around a very large room. I still possess some of his books, beyond the stuff donated to the Tabor Academy.

He managed to ride sailings on Chemical/Oil Tankers from the Azores, to Valdez. The look on his face when he detailing his adventures were beyond joy, it emulated a state of bliss.

His ashes were scattered at sea, off Brenton Reef, under full military honors. Those were his express orders, which were followed to the "T".

You folks need any more recollections, feel free to ask.

Andrew Smart

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Permalink Reply by John Crocker on October 20, 2009 at 8:40am

Andrew,

Thanks for the update. This puts my mind at ease to know that your Uncle Joe spent those precious times doing what he most enjoyed. During my time at Tabor, I spent many an evening visiting with him over tea and chatting about the sea and ships.

Best regards,
John Crocker

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Smart on October 29, 2009 at 3:28pm

John,

My best story of my Uncle was in 1984, when I was homeported out of Kodiak, Alaska. Uncle Joe managed to jump a civilian flight, and stayed with me a few days during a very harsh late summer Pacific storm. A bunch of us were feeling brave, and invited him to play Trivial Pursuit, the board game. Being ever so young, we gave Uncle Joe the courtesy of "going first". He knew every answer to the winners' circle, where he won in a shutout.

The rest of us were dumbfounded, and mumbled something about a nice game of cards. That was him to the consummate "T". He did not brag about his exploits, and travels. Rather, it was more of a friendly lecture about the joys of circumnavigating the globe, and discovering the answers.

Best Regards,

Andrew Smart

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Permalink Reply by Jim Potdevin on January 23, 2010 at 8:40pm

Andrew -

Who were you aboard in Kodiak in '84? White boat or black? I was XO of SWEETBRIER in Cordova 84-86 and CO FIREBUSH 89-92.

Jim

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