LYNN G STEDMAN JR
In Memoriam



From 1897 through 1975 US Sailing, as it is known today, was the North American Yacht Racing Union. Thought by more than a few to be a bit of a starchy old boys club, NAYRU was comprised only of regional yacht racing associations representing formal yacht clubs, including Canadian clubs.

That all changed in 1975 when Lynn Stedman, then the "dean" of yachting in Detroit and a NAYRU Vice President, became President. Primarily for Olympic purposes the Canadians struck out on their own as the CYA, while NAYRU, renamed USYRU, became the USA's "national governing body." President Stedman deftly orchestrated the NAYRU/CYA disengagement, and then broadened the new USYRU to include voting representation from classes and offshore organizations as well as other previously disenfranchised groups. Lynn recruited into key posts new people from all over the USA, with a new emphasis on top racing sailors, especially women and younger people.

When Congress re-organized the US Olympic Committee in 1978, USYRU, by then broadly-based and well-organized, was held high as the "model" national governing body which other NGBs were expected to emulate. Lynn was enormously proud of this achievement. However, he always shared the credit with his predecessor, the late James Michael of San Francisco, who had been the first non-New England NAYRU President, and with Chicagoans Mark Baxter (late father of current US Sailing President Janet Baxter) and the late Richard Latham (Lynn's successor as USYRU President), among others. However, I think most of us then active in USYRU would agree that the key was Lynn's broad, inclusive vision, quiet but firm diplomatic skills, and his affable Midwestern "neutrality" that assuaged egos and gained the trust of sailing leaders on both coasts and in Canada.

Lynn also quietly championed racial non-discrimination. He discreetly resolved a potentially explosive issue involving a major southern yacht club -- standing up for equal opportunity without jamming it down the throats of private clubs.

After his presidency Lynn was an internationally-respected senior delegate to IYRU (now ISAF). He remained active as an international judge well into his 70's, serving many major events including both Mackinacs, the Canada's Cup, Congressional Cup and Admiral's Cup. The USYRU judges program was initiated in 1977 during his presidency. Lynn also served on the USYRU Appeals Committee, the "supreme court" of sailing in the USA, from 1975 to 1983.

Lynn was as much fun in the evenings as he was a diligent diplomat during the day. He was perhaps sailing's version of the "Music Man," having been the only person in the august history of the University of Michigan Marching Band elected as drum major his freshman year, let alone for four straight years. Ever the impresario, during the '80s and 90's Lynn organized and led what became known as the "Stedman Players," an eclectic, volunteer troupe of dubious distinction that provided USYRU meetings with much-needed comic, if not musical, relief.

Ken Weller was USYRU's Offshore Director from 1975 through 1993. "There have been 20 NAYRU/USYRU/USSA presidents," Ken writes. "I’ve known 14 and worked with 10, beginning with Lynn. All have been very capable people, but Lynn was special. There were those, like Lynn, who had good judgment; who also were excellent sailors and knew the sport well; who put enormous energy into the task; who listened without prejudice. But none shared to the same degree Lynn's human relations skill and talent for gently picking his way through political mine fields.

"With his firm yet light hand on the helm, Executive Committee meetings were a model of decorum and good-humor, ending on schedule if not earlier, with business successfully transacted, tangled objectives accomplished with relative ease and dignity, and all members feeling as trusted colleagues. Modest about his accomplishments, few knew his secret -- but in the weeks prior to a meeting he worked assiduously to 'grease every wheel and press every button' (his words); and at the meeting business purred along like a well-oiled machine."

Ken Weller concludes, "Lynn was always held in the highest respect and leaves a global trail of friendships. Those of us who are deeply saddened by his passing will also cherish our memories of Lynn, not only the warm camaraderie, but the standard and example he set for all of us."

In recognition of his many achievements and contributions to the sport he so loved, in 1986 Lynn G Stedman Jr was awarded the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy, the sport's highest service award in the USA. There can be little doubt, especially among those who knew and served with him, that Lynn was one of the USA's best-ever sailing leaders.

Lynn was equally successful in his insurance business, long considered one of the best in his field in the nation. He loved the business of helping people secure their financial futures, and worked to the day of the stroke early last week that ultimately claimed his life Friday morning.

As Shakespeare would have it, "His life was gentle and the elements so mix'd in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘This was a man.’"

-- Tom Ehman

(This was written for US Sailing's website, and will be excerpted in Scuttlebutt this week.)


-----Original Message-----
From: kraulston [mailto:kraulston@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 11:34 PM
To: Tom Ehman, Jr.
Subject: Lynn Stedman

Hi Tom,

Please grab a hanky and sit down. We lost Dad.
He had a massive stroke on the 15th after he and
Joyce finished the taxes, mailed them and visited
his boat. He bought the boat late last Summer and
has joked since about joining the enemy with his
first real power boat. He has been fitting it out
ever since and had already put it in the water
this Spring (or was it still Winter) at the
Detroit Yacht Club. In spite of any health
problems he never stopped being active, and was
sharp as a tack. In fact, in the hospital, with
all the damage and not being able to talk, he
still found ways to communicate. He was taking
care of Joyce during this last week. He passed
away early Friday morning. I have been laying low
because I feel like I have been beat up and left
in a dark alley, so you are the first one I am
contacting. He loved you so much. IF you are in
town, there will be a memorial service on Friday,
then a proper wake at Bayview. Incredibly he went
with the same dignity and decorum he displayed
during his life. What a man.

Love, Kay

-----Reply-----
From: T F Ehman Jr [mailto:tfe@tfehman.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 11:34 PM
To: kraulston [mailto:kraulston@comcast.net]
Subject: Lynn Stedman

Dear Kay,

Heartfelt condolences...and thanks so very much for the note. It is 2345 Saturday evening here in Hamburg and I am just floored....

It was such a hoot to have dinner with Lynn and Joyce last summer at PYC, and Bill Martin, to say nothing of spending the week with you and Chuck. Lynn was in such great shape; and sounds like he was to the end. Dignity, indeed. Just the way we all want to go, I am sure.

We all loved him, too, Kay, and had nothing but the utmost respect for all he did for the sport. He was without doubt one of if not the best Presidents the org ever had, at least in my time. A terrific and special man. You are lucky to have had him as a loving father.

How is Joyce doing? Please give her a big hug from Leslie and me. Friday is going to very difficult, but will see what I can do.

Leslie and Meg are asleep. I think I shall go pour a small glass of port and have a quiet drink in Lynn's memory.

Hugs,

Tom