Eight Bells: Pete Ives
Published on September 7th, 2022
Norman “Pete” Ives, 93, a former Long Beach Yacht Club commodore who helped implement on-the-water umpiring at the Congressional Cup and was an international regatta judge, died on August 22, 2022. Ives, a Korean War veteran, died of natural causes at a care facility in Westminster, CA.
Born in Denver, the Ives family moved to Long Beach in 1931, just three years after the future commodore was born. After graduating from USC in 1950, he accepted a commission onboard the attack transport USS George Clymer and fought in the Korean War. He received two battle stars during his survives and was discharged in 1954.
After completing his tour of duty, he began his career in the lumber business. He owned United Lumber in Temple City until he sold it in 1970. He then moved his family to Rossmore to be closer to the water — and sailing.
Ives was an All-American beach volleyball player, an avid golfer and excellent woodworker, but his passion was sailing – and, in particular, racing. He owned multiple sailboats over the years and always raced with his wife and sons as his crew. Ives joined the Long Beach Yacht Club in 1971 and soon volunteered on race and protest committees.
During the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Ives was selected to be the principal race officer for the Star and Soling events. He steadily moved through the ranks of club leadership, becoming LBYC commodore in 1987. In 1988, thanks to Ives’ efforts, on-the-water umpiring began at the Congressional Cup, the granddaddy of match racing, to eliminate lengthy protest sessions.
Ives was a well-respected and sought-after international judge and umpire who traveled the world teaching and honing his craft. He worked three America’s Cups, in 1992 and 1995 in San Diego, and in Auckland, New Zealand in 2000.
He served as an umpire for many Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Races, the Knickerbocker Cup in New York Harbor, the Santa Maria Cup (a women’s match race) in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Gold Cup in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Ives is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Beth; sons Keith and Jeff; and grandchildren Ethan and Chloe. Family members will hold a private memorial at sea.
Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2022/08/30/long-beach-yachtsman-innovator-norman-pete-ives-dies-at-93/