Eight Bells: Russell G. Lundstrom, Sr.

It is with great regret that I inform the yachting community of the passing of Russell G. Lundstrom, Sr. of Bristol, RI, at the age of 94.

Right out of high school in 1937, Russ went to work for my grandfather, William J. H. “Bill” Dyer, at The Anchorage, Inc., builders of Dyer Boats. At the time the company was based in Providence, RI and building the mahogany lapstrake 10′ Dyer Dink.

Immediately following the 1938 Hurricane, Russ supervised moving the company office from Providence to its current home in Warren, RI.

During WWII, Russ first helped The Anchorage earn the Army/Navy “E” for excellence in war production, and then he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew missions over Europe until 1945. He then returned to The Anchorage – Dyer Boats and helped lead the effort to begin building the entire dinghy line in fiberglass. Over the years he served as Purchasing Manager, Sales Manager, General Manager, and Vice President of the company. He retired from daily activity in 1988 but continued as a yacht broker specializing in Dyer Boats until 2002.

Throughout his career, Russ was enormously respected by customers of the company especially those for whom boats were built on a semi-custom basis. He was involved in the production and sales of nearly 20,000 small boats from 8′ to 40′. He was well-known throughout the marine industry, serving on several committees of the ABYC and NAEBM, as well as being a community and church leader in his hometown of Bristol RI.

We will all miss his friendship and wise counsel. – Dyer Jones

Note: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bristol Rescue, PO Box 775, Bristol, RI 02809, or Visiting Nurse Services of Newport & Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.