Harry “Hank” Easom

June 15, 1934 - February 14, 2023

Hank Easom passed away peacefully at home in Tiburon after a long illness on February 14.

He spent his entire life living in Marin County, always in view of the Bay he loved so much.

In true Hank Easom fashion, that long illness, while it took its toll on him, couldn’t keep him away from the water. He sailed his last race, on his boat, Serenade, in the Golden Gate Mid-Winter, on February 4. He finished first in class, division and overall by 30 minutes.

Hank was born on June 15, 1934 at Ross Hospital in Ross, California. He was the youngest son of Harry and Davida Easom. His brother Bruce, who preceded him in death, was 3 years older.

He spent most of his childhood in Belvedere, and most of that on the water. Starting to sail at 7 years old, Hank and Bruce raced Moon boats. Hank could often be found on his Moon boat with his dog, Rowdy.

The Easom boys joined the Corinthian Yacht Club as Junior Sailors. Hank was the first Junior Commodore at Corinthian.

He went to Belvedere School in Belvedere and Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley.

At 13 Hank began working at Clipper Yacht Harbor in Sausalito. He commuted to Sausalito from Belvedere in his Moon boat. He had the good fortune to be mentored by two men who helped craft Sausalito’s waterfront industry - Myron Spaulding of Spaulding Boat Works and Cliff Pederson of Clipper Yacht.

He worked at Clipper until he went in the Coast Guard during the Korean War, in 1952, serving in the Pacific from Hawaii to Japan to Korea. He served for 3 years.

Upon his return he started Easom Boat Works on the grounds of Clipper Yacht. In that same year, 1955, he met Joy Williams on a blind date aboard a Farallon Clipper. They married 3 months later. Joy became his partner in life and business. They were married for 47 years, until Joy passed away in 2002.

Easom Boat Works built and repaired boats of all sizes and shapes for 35 years. With a reputation as master boat builder, Hank was known for his craftsmanship, innovation, work ethic and honesty in business.

Hank was most himself when sailing. He raced for 81 years. He is renowned on San Francisco Bay for his yachtsmanship and racing record. He was a member and past Board of Directors Member of the San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere. Twice he was Yachtsman of the Year. He was also an honorary member of the Sausalito Yacht Club. Additionally, he was a former member and served on the Board of Directors of the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco.

During the foggy San Francisco summers Hank spent much of his time in his El Toro at Pinecrest, CA. There was some fierce competition and some good sailors at those 3:00 pm daily races. Yet he nearly always seemed to find a way to be first over the finish line.

The Yucca, the 8 meter he owned for 52 years, became a fixture on the race course. He also owned and raced, a Dasher, Etchells, and his last boat, a Sabre Spirit. He crewed, raced, and won races to Hawaii, in the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit, Europe, Mexico and beyond. No boat was too big or too small for Hank. He raced on 80 foot boats and 8 foot boats. If it floated, he sailed it.

His competitive nature and sharp hand-eye coordination extended to the tennis court and the dominoes table. Hank didn’t like coming in second in anything. In his first, and only time, playing golf, as a left-hander with righthanded clubs at the par 3 Hay Course at Pebble Beach Hank had 3 pars and the rest were bogeys.

Counsel to many, friend to all, and always with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes, Hank was beloved by the sailing community, his friends of many years, and his family.

He is survived by his daughter Jan Easom Kneib and her husband, Joe, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, his daughter Kelley of St. Joseph, MO, his son Kent and his wife L.J. of Rathdrum, Idaho, and his niece Kerry Easom, nephews Scott Easom and Bruce Easom. He is also survived by his extended Miller-Newman-Munn family of Greenbrae, Mill Valley and Colorado.

Donations may be made in his name to the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center in Sausalito, By the Bay Hospice of Marin and The Cove Foundation of Belvedere.