Deaths — St. Thomas
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Capt. Arthur Kimberly Dies
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Capt. Arthur Kimberly, “Skipper” as he was known in the Virgin Islands and throughout the world by his shipmates and friends, died peacefully at home in New Symrna, Fla., Sept. 17. Capt. Kimberly and his wife Gloria owned and sailed the Brigantine Romance for over 20 years (1966-1989) in the Virgin Islands. Skipper met his wife Gloria Kimberly aboard the Brigantine Yankee. They were married while Capt. Kimberly skippered the Yankee on a round the world sail. Skipper and his wife would sail their beloved ship, the Romance, twice around the world and on countless trips through to the South Pacific, West Indies and other waters.
Capt. Kimberly and his wife spent most of their years sailing Romance in the Virgin Islands where they trained many young sailors, who went on to sailing careers of their own. For many years, one would be hard pressed to climb aboard a traditional sailing vessel or tall ship without finding among her crew someone who had sailed aboard Romance or had knowledge of the Kimberlys and their ship. The National Maritime Historical Society honored the Kimberlys with the Karl Kortum American Ship Trust Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York City Yacht Club in 2008.
Capt. Arthur Kimberly was born June 27, 1922 in Bristol, Conn., and grew up in Worcester, Mass. He graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and held the license Unlimited Master of Steam and Motor Vessels, and Master in Sail in any Ocean. Captain Kimberly is survived by two sisters: Harriet (Hugh) Crawford, Ft. Myers Fla.; and Jane (Russ) Meyer, The Villages, Fla.; five nieces; two nephews; two special shipmates/friends in the Virgin Islands: Manfred Dittrich and Peter Wholihan; and many Marinaros around the world.
Donations can be sent to Tiffany on the River, Assistant Living for the Elderly, 502 N. Riverside Drive New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168, or Odyssey Hospice, 1495 Ridgewood, Ste 600, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.