Sail On Bob............
Posted: May 10, 2006 11:59 am
This was a guy I knew, not well, but he was an instrumental part of the waterfront here in Newport - well respected, ran a great sailing charter business with his wife, and loved the history of sailing and restoring historic boats (one of which had been sunk in the Great Lakes!). Always a nice guy, never pretentious and no work on the boats was beneath him. He and his wife were such a great team, this is going to be a rough road ahead for her, especially as the sailing season is just getting underway..... A great person, taken well before his time..... 
(((((Elizabeth)))))
Sail on Bob......
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EIGHT BELLS
Robert (Bob) Tiedemann, a lifelong sailor who had a passion for the beauty and versatility of vintage yachts, died yesterday at Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I., following a four-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56 years old.
His keen interest in classic yachts inspired him to rescue a substantial number of antique sail and power boats from old age and disrepair. Tiedemann combined his love of antique yachts with a thriving business by convincing corporate clients that racing his 12-Metres would make a good team-building exercise for their employees and clients. He started out in 1976 by chartering Gleam on Narragansett Bay, near his home in Newport, RI. The idea of restoring old 12-Meters inspired restoration work by others who saw Tiedemann's success. Because of his efforts, there are now as many as a dozen vintage 12-Metres being chartered and raced off Newport each summer. His restoration efforts have brought him widespread acclaim, including the Maritime Heritage Award presented in 1999 by Preserve Rhode Island, a nonprofit historical group.
Tiedemann was a member of the New York Yacht Club, the Antique & Classic Boat Society, and was an honorary member of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. He was also an avid gardener, snow skier, antique collector and nautical historian. Tiedemann is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his mother, Gertrude, of Bear River, Nova Scotia; his two sisters, Janet Whitney, of Newport and Susan Comeau, of Bear River; and three nieces.A memorial service is planned for Tiedemann at Trinity Episcopal Church, Friday May 12th, at 3:00 P.M. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Trinity Church Restoration Fund in honor of Tiedemann, or to the Robert H. Tiedemann Restoration Fund at the Museum of Yachting.
(((((Elizabeth)))))
Sail on Bob......
**************************
EIGHT BELLS
Robert (Bob) Tiedemann, a lifelong sailor who had a passion for the beauty and versatility of vintage yachts, died yesterday at Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I., following a four-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56 years old.
His keen interest in classic yachts inspired him to rescue a substantial number of antique sail and power boats from old age and disrepair. Tiedemann combined his love of antique yachts with a thriving business by convincing corporate clients that racing his 12-Metres would make a good team-building exercise for their employees and clients. He started out in 1976 by chartering Gleam on Narragansett Bay, near his home in Newport, RI. The idea of restoring old 12-Meters inspired restoration work by others who saw Tiedemann's success. Because of his efforts, there are now as many as a dozen vintage 12-Metres being chartered and raced off Newport each summer. His restoration efforts have brought him widespread acclaim, including the Maritime Heritage Award presented in 1999 by Preserve Rhode Island, a nonprofit historical group.
Tiedemann was a member of the New York Yacht Club, the Antique & Classic Boat Society, and was an honorary member of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. He was also an avid gardener, snow skier, antique collector and nautical historian. Tiedemann is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his mother, Gertrude, of Bear River, Nova Scotia; his two sisters, Janet Whitney, of Newport and Susan Comeau, of Bear River; and three nieces.A memorial service is planned for Tiedemann at Trinity Episcopal Church, Friday May 12th, at 3:00 P.M. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Trinity Church Restoration Fund in honor of Tiedemann, or to the Robert H. Tiedemann Restoration Fund at the Museum of Yachting.