Posted by Paul LaBrie on 5/26/2009, 5:39:21

Hi all, There is sad news this morning concerning the designer Phil Bolger, who apparently took his own life on Sunday. Here is an article from the Gloucester Times: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_145224017.html?keyword=secondarystory My sympathy goes out to Susanne Altenburger and all other members of Phil Bolger's family and friends. The small boat world will surely feel this loss. - Paul LaBrie

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Posted by T.K. on 5/26/2009, 11:40:11, in reply to "Sad news re: Phil Bolger"

Without exaggeration

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Posted by Michel on 5/28/2009, 11:35:15, in reply to "The end of an era."

Very sad news indeed. He must have felt some great anxiety to decide to go this way.

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Posted by David keithy on 6/3/2009, 12:15:41, in reply to "Sad news re: Phil Bolger"

It is a sad day indeed. Bolger was so original and so creative, the boating world has been seriously deprived by his death. I cannot say I loved every design of his, but they all made me think and question. In his biographical writing in "Nautical Quarterly" (later in "WoodenBoat") about L Francis Herreshoff, he noted that Nathanael Herreshoff had functioned in his later years somewhat like a robot...not much new input but the momentum and vast informetion from his earlier years kept him humming along and his output was superior to his contemporaries. I feel Bolger could have been similar, even less "original" than at his best; he was still away "out in front" in many ways. It is sad that he could not deal with the inevitable slippage due to aging and gone on to enjoy a more relaxed period at the end of his life. We are all the poorer for his passing.

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