Eight Bells: Geoffrey Mason

Geoffrey Mason, a lifelong sailor and longtime sports television production executive passed away on January 25 at the age of 85.

Geoff grew up sailing on Marblehead Harbor at the Corinthian & Pleon Yacht Clubs, later becoming a valuable member of the Eastern Yacht Club. He won many a sailing trophy on his own and crewed for some of the Club’s best skippers of our time, which included being a member of America’s Cup contender NEFERTITI with Steve & Jon Wales, Bradley Noyes, Don McNamara, and Ted Hood.

In addition to his sailing accomplishments, he was a longtime sports television production executive and member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. His career spanned five decades across ABC Sports, ESPN, NBC, Fox, the NFL Network and other networks, helping shape the coverage of sports on television. He won 24 Emmy Awards and was inducted into the prestigious Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2010.

“Geoff Mason was a friend and a colleague who had a storied career, touching just about every corner of the sports television industry,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC and ESPN. “He had a passion for the business, which was evidenced in his prodigious work ethic and the constant love and enthusiasm he exhibited on everything he worked on. He most certainly will be missed.”

A graduate of Duke University and veteran of the U.S. Navy, Geoff began his sports television career as a production associate at ABC Sports in 1967. He was the coordinating producer for ABC’s coverage of the terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, the subject of a recent movie called “September 5”, which was the first of his eight Olympic assignments.

Over the course of his career, he also was part of the coverage for the Super Bowl, the World Series, the World Cup, “Monday Night Football,” golf and tennis majors, the Tour de France, the Indianapolis 500, horse racing’s Triple Crown and yachting’s America’s Cup being the first to deliver the sport of sailboat racing to audiences around the world.

If there was a momentous occasion in the Sports World, Geoff was helping put it on TV for all to see.

The Eastern Yacht Club was honored to have Geoff serve as Master of Ceremonies at its Club’s prestigious events, most notably the re-dedication of the Charles Francis Adams Memorial Trophy with fellow member Gary Jobson making it a historic evening. One that the Club was fortunate to have them repeat on several occasions, making each event memorable and extremely special.

In addition to the Eastern Yacht Club, Geoff was a founding board member of the V Foundation for Cancer Research and served on the board of directors of the Betty Ford Center after entering treatment at the Betty Ford Center in 1983, which resulted in his devoting much of his life to helping others in their recovery journey. Mason developed a close friendship with the Ford family and eulogized the former First Lady at her 2011 funeral.

Geoff is survived by his wife, Chris, son Geoff Jr, and brother, David.