November 2023 Papoose Article

This month the Yacht Club has glad news and some sad news. The glad news is that thanks to a late Indian Summer the sailing season was extended into mid-October. The sad news is that Don Okner, one of our longest-term members and great friend to all, succumbed to pancreatic cancer in late August. We are dedicating this article to him. 

Don wrote our Papoose articles for over 25 years, and when he ‘retired’ from doing that in Dec. 2021 we asked him to write the story of how he got started in sailing for the January 2022 Papoose – (you can read that interesting article on our website: www.lakemohawksailing.org). A few months later we learned about Don’s illness.

We were all pulling for him as he went through his treatments last year looking good and cheering us up, but we knew it was serious when this Spring he sold his prized Lightning, named Sushi. Lucky for us, the buyer is LMYC member Keelin Reekie, who has home-made crew in her two daughters, McKaela and Shealyn. We hope to see that classy boat out on the water for years to come. In the words of Ian Oldridge, “we will all recall fond memories of Don as we see those red sail numbers glide across the lake”. 

The Okner’s – Don, Madeleine and sons Marty & Jim - became LMYC members in the late 1980s. Don quickly became involved in the leadership and was elected Commodore in 1993. Then, as an accomplished lawyer in his professional life, he put his writing skills to use for us by creating articles for the Lightning Class yearbook as well as the Papoose. I don’t think he ever missed a deadline.

After Don’s home-grown crew grew up and moved on, he found a steady one in Jim McMahon, another lawyer who had a family home on the lake. Jim, tragically, was at ground zero on 9/11, became ill shortly after and didn’t survive. About that time, Josh, the son of LMYC members Ian & Jan Oldridge, completed our Jr. Sailing Program and Don took him on board. The Oldridges say “We will always remember Don. A wonderful man who always had a kind word to say. Our son Josh crewed for Don for many seasons and benefitted greatly from his sound advice and fatherly guidance. Don and Josh were fellow Navy ‘bluenoses’ and Don was always asking about Josh as he served onboard a submarine.” Included here is a racing picture of Don with Josh riding the rail and a 3rd crew at the front.

After Josh went off to the Navy, Don became a master at sizing up newcomers to the club to see if they might want to crew. Don was a confident sailor and felt comfortable taking on new hands. His most recent catch, Susan and Karl Hauck, crewed for him his last two summers, making Don a happy skipper. Susan says: “Don was a fun and extremely laid-back sailor. We felt welcomed and appreciated on his boat. He was an experienced sailor who readily shared his knowledge.”

LMYC members and friends will gather this month to give Don a Viking Send-off, which has become customary for us when we lose an active member to the next world. It will be at the home of Constance Gill, who lives close by the Okner’s lovely “Snug Harbor” on Hillside Road.

Fitting are the words of John Miller, who replied when asked how he will remember Don…

“As an avid sailor and competitor, a sailor who competed for the fun of the sport. A calm skipper who rarely was involved in a protest. A soul with a fun/witty sense of humor and a great smile. A family man, who lit up when his wife, sons and grandchildren were crew members. Someone you could rely on. A man with good common sense. A traveler and vacationer who enjoyed Cape Cod. A long-time officer and supporter of the Lake Mohawk Yacht Club. A dedicated writer/scribe to the Papoose. A skilled lawyer with good legal counsel. A faithful Christian. A positive intellect. A courageous patient in a brave battle. But most of all, a friend to all Club members, and a man who was a really good all-around guy. Don was surely one of the Good Ones.”

Amen.

Until next month, Smooth Sailing and God Bless America !

Gail Miner