Eight Bells: Stephen ‘Cruser’ Cruse

Stephen L. Cruse “Cruser” passed away at home on Sunday August 9th after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Steve’s loving wife of 40 years Lexi and his sons Stevie and Billy were by his side. In addition to his immediate family, Steve is survived by his mother Marjorie and sister Susan Bohrer.

Born in Livingston New Jersey in 1954, Steve graduated from Boston University in 1977 with a degree in Economics and immediately joined Hood Sailmakers in Marblehead to pursue his childhood love of sailing. He quickly made a name for himself as not only a great sales and businessman, but a capable and competent off-shore sailor. Steve then became an early member of the Doyle Sailmakers Team as a start-up, and finally finished his career spending the last 15 years with North Sails.

Steve was a long time member of The Storm Trysail Club and a past member of The New York Yacht Club and Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead. Steve enjoyed cruising in Maine with Lexi, Stevie, and Billy on his family’s yacht “Brilliant”. In addition to sailing, Steve was a rabid fan of the BU Hockey team, enjoyed ice skating with his boys, cycling with Lexi, and torturing the local model yacht racing fleet on Red’s Pond in Marblehead.

Steve sailed in almost every major regatta around the world in his storied career. A member of the Aries crew for the 1979 U.S. Admirals Cup Team, he and his crewmates survived the notorious Fastnet Race that year. He sailed in the Sardinia Cup, a dozen Bermuda Races, countless SORC’s and Key West Race Weeks, Block Island Race Weeks, as well as St Bart’s Buckets, San Tropez, Antigua Race weeks and too many more to mention. The yachts that Steve sailed on always seemed to “coincidentally” be on the podium at the end of regattas, and the silverware and trophies collected by those happy owners would fill a small warehouse.

Steve will be remembered by everyone who had the privilege to sail with him as a steady tactician, expert sail trimmer, and willing to do whatever it took to go fast and win. Everyone who was lucky enough to simply know him will remember his sense of humor and his loyal enduring friendship. Cruser, sail fast, take chances, and we’ll see you at the bar on the other side. – James M. Noyes