Eight Bells: Ned Lockwood

Ned Lockwood passed away peacefully on June 2, 2015. A resident of Traverse City, MI, he was 88.

Born Aug. 25, 1926 to William Bruce and Mary Hudnut Lockwood in Boston, Massachusetts, Ned was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He worked with his family’s steel business, Cold Metal Products Company in Youngstown, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana, the Engineering Research firm in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was owner of The Country Camping Store in Zionsville, Indiana, before he settled his family in Traverse City in the 1960s.

He was a math, history and shop teacher at Long Lake School and Mesick Schools, opened Traverse Harbor Marina and worked in multiple facets of the sailing industry across Northwestern Michigan. In his retirement he enjoyed distributing the Northern Express weekly newspaper.

Ned’s first and enduring love was sailing. He came from a storied family of sailors from the Midwest and Long Island, New York. He was a dapper gentleman who could set you straight on and off the water.

A top collegiate racer, he was honored with an invitation to the 1948 Olympic Trials and was hailed “Sailor of the Year” in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1964. He was a founding member of the Indianapolis Sailing Club, an active member of the Columbia Yacht Club in Chicago, Illinois, and a lifelong member of the Grand Traverse Yacht Club (GTYC).

Ned’s passion in life was to share the joy and competitive spirit of sailing. He launched the Youth Sailing Program at GTYC. From dinghies in his youth, to Olympic class one designs, to J/24s, Melges 24s and various offshore racing boats, he sailed on nearly every type of boat.

Ned was an intense competitor on the water, having won multiple national and regional championship titles. He never missed a Wednesday night race, the last of which was in late May on the racing yacht Liberty where he was tactician. Ned cherished the camaraderie and friendships of the sailing community and was famous for challenging everyone to enjoy the view of his transom as he raced to the finish line.

Ned was a refined pianist with a passion for music. He minored in piano performance in college, was an avid supporter of Interlochen Center for the Arts and continued playing daily throughout his life. He was the ultimate ski racing fan and would often be seen on the hill supporting his children and grandchildren.

Waiting in Heaven for him are his twin sister, Mary Oakes and his brothers, Bruce and John.

Ned was an involved, hands-on dad and is survived by his children, Linda Lockwood (Stacy Horton), of San Francisco Bay Area, Gale Lockwood (Kirk Arndt), of Oxford, England, Ted Lockwood (Deb), of Traverse City, Heather Lockwood Clark (Bob), of Traverse City, and Bruce Lockwood (Kelli), of Elk Rapids. Ned enjoyed his 10 grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews immensely and loved his dear friend and caregiver, Sandy Egeler.

A celebration of his life will start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club. Ned’s celebration of life ceremony will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. A continued informal time will be held into the evening with the family.

In his honor, donations may be made to the Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS), c/o TACS Permanent Endowment Fund, PO Box 4149, Traverse City, MI 49685 and/or Interlochen Center for the Arts, c/o Advancement Office, PO Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643.

NOTE: Obituary courtesy of Traverse City Record-Eagle. Photo courtesy of GTYC from their Founder’s Day Celebration on May 22, 2015 where Ned reminded folks that sailboat racing is “about the people you meet”.