Eight Bells: Rene Coudert

Rene J. Coudert

Rene J. Coudert, 87, of Southport, CT, died on Sunday, November 19, 2023 after a long illness.

Born on September 9, 1936 in Greenwich, CT, he attended Brunswick School and was a graduate of The Canterbury School (1955) and the University of Virginia (1960). For many years, he was employed at IBM and worked closely with Tom Watson, the founder. After his time at IBM, he worked at Moore McCormack, and then founded Nat PSN, Inc. from which he retired.

An avid sailor and long-time member of Indian Harbor Yacht Club, the New York Yacht Club, and most recently Pequot Yacht Club, he competed in everything from dinghies to ocean racers, as well as cruised the New England Coast on his boat, Mischief. His sailing (and other) adventures took him to many ports of call throughout the world, including the South Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Canadian Maritimes, and the Norwegian Sea. He documented his travels through excellent photography.

Some of the highlights of his sailing include multiple junior sailing awards on Long Island Sound, winner of the King Edward VII Gold Cup (1965, 1967) for match racing, Admiral’s Cup team member on winner Palawan (1969), and founder and chairman of 40 Class Racing Association (1980).

He shared his love of sailing with many of his nieces and nephews (as soon as they were old enough to pull their weight on board), as well as the hospitality of his home with his extended family for many memorable holidays throughout the years.

Sailor, photographer, friend, and loving uncle, he was good company and will be missed.

He was pre-deceased by his wife, Cheryl Fisher Coudert; his parents, Victor R. Coudert, Sr. and Anita Coudert; his brothers, Victor R. Coudert, Jr. and Charles O. Coudert; his sister-in-law, Barbara “Robbie” Coudert, his sister and brother-in-law, Marie Coudert Curry and John T. Curry Jr.; and his nephew, Victor R. Coudert, III.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Virginia Coudert; his nieces and nephews, John T. Curry, III (Winnie), Michael O. Curry (Moony), Sheila Curry Oakes (Graham), Sarah Curry-Kennedy (Michael), Anne Coudert Schreckinger (Peter), Margot Coudert Wolfe (Sam), Cathy Coudert, Matthew Coudert (Hobbie), Paul Coudert (Marnie), and Lucy Coudert Conrod (Doug); his companion, Polly Roessler; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Church in Greenwich, CT. Following Mass, an interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Greenwich, CT.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Williams Syndrome Association, https://www.williams-syndrome.org/

Source: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/stamfordadvocate/name/rene-coudert-obituary?id=54066871