Robert Cotter Keefe

March 28, 1932 - December 4, 2022

Robert “RC” Keefe passed away at the age of 90 after a brief illness.

RC was proud to be a 3rd generation San Franciscan. He was born and raised in San Francisco, attending Commodore Sloat Elementary and then Lowell High School. He enlisted in the US Navy during the Korean War, and after his service he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in business.

Bob married Joan Da San Martino in 1955 at Saint Sebastian’s Church in Kentfield, and they were married for 46 years until Joan’s passing in 2002. They met in Santa Cruz while he was sailing and she playing tennis. Bob and Joan lived in San Rafael during the early years of their marriage. They move to Larkspur in 1971 and spent the next 31 years raising their family there. Bob is survived by his 3 children, Kenneth Keefe (Kerry), Linda Keefe Berlinger (Bruce) and Laura Keefe Junod (Mark). He was grandfather of 6 (Rebecca, Michael, Emily, Arthur, Will and Lucas) and great grandfather to one wonderful little guy.

RC was part of the golden years of sailboat racing on SF Bay. He raced aboard “Bolero” with Denny Jordan and then on “Brauna” with Jim Michael. It was during this time that RC had the idea to have a large sailboat racing event on SF Bay. The idea of the “Big Boat Series” was started with the first event in 1964. RC is credited as the father of Big Boat Series. In 1966 Bob was awarded the “Yachtsmen of the Year” award for his efforts with the Big Boat Series.

His life was about giving back to the sport and the St Francis YC. He was the Senior Staff Commodore at the St. Francis Yacht Club. His father was one of the founding members. Both RC and his brother, Jack, served as Commodores. His son, Ken carries on the sailing legacy. In his youth, RC watched 6 Meters racing on the Bay and part of his legacy was working with the great members of the

Club and Tom Blackaller to bring 6 Meters back to the Bay. For a ten year period they amassed a record of 16 wins and no losses. In 1980 he handed the program over to the Juniors of the St. Francis YC. Included in that Junior Program were John Bertrand, Paul Cayard, Craig Healy, Ken Keefe, Steve Jeppesen and John Kostecki. Those young sailors went on to become icons in the sport. One of RC’s most favored positions was as Club Historian which he held for over 30 years. He lived and breathed everything having to do with sailing’s history. In this position he could explore and write about the great yachts of the world for the Club’s Mainsheet. For 50 years, he joyfully used the Club’s cloth napkins to draw detailed sketches of his favorite yachts.

Bob was fortunate to be able to make his living in the maritime industry. He joined the Barient Winch Company in San Carlos in the 1960’s where he served as President and grew the company to be the most prominent winch company in the world. At Barient, RC oversaw the development of the “self-tailing’ winch which is the same basic design used today. The winches were tested on the family Yacht “Shillelagh”. After Barient, he founded the Keefe Pacific Company where he developed and built anchor windlasses.

RC Keefe and his stories will be missed by many people. There will be a Celebration of Life later in January. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Francis Sailing Foundation (www.stfsf.org).