Remembering Fred Delavan
Commander Club members are mourning the passing of longtime member Fred Delavan. People like Fred are a reason our passion for Chris-Craft Commanders thrives today. It saddens all of us at the Chris-Craft Commander Club to learn of his passing.
Fred was a member of the Chris Craft Commander Club since 2001. He and his wife, Eileen Powers, enjoyed boating on Chesapeake Bay aboard NORTHERN STAR, a 38’ Chris-Craft Commander1969. They attended many national rendezvous and hosted one in 2009 on Kent Island, MD.
We were part of their quest to find their perfect Commander offering suggestions, advice and tips. Before finding their Commander, they attended the 2002 rendezvous in Portsmouth, VA. They shared their experience in a post:
What a great time! Friendships were fostered. It was like a blind date. No one looked the way I imagined they would look. It took a while for the revised images to catch up with the boats and messages received over the past year.
The lasting impression of the weekend for us was not about boats. It was about diversity. As I sat crowded in Ray's living room with people I didn't know yesterday, I thought about how different we are from each other. We live in different states, we are of vastly different ages and life stages, we are singles, families, and various types of couples, our occupations fall across the board. Under ordinary circumstances, we would never find ourselves together. Yet here we were, laughing, talking, and comfortably enjoying one another. Bound by a common interest that is bigger than our many differences. Dick Avery, did you ever expect your drawings to come to this? It's more than about preserving classic boats. It's that through these beautiful classic boats and the wonders of the internet, we can see beyond those factors that ordinarily keep us separated and discover that, all in all, we are more alike than we are different. And this is how the world will change.
So our enthusiasm for finding a Commander, which waned after many disappointments this spring and summer, is renewed. We are again accepting all comments and leads. We are still debating about size, an issue that hopefully will get a boost from a visit to Whitney and John's 38' in New York next month. By next boating season we hope to be back on the water, grumbling about mishaps and repairs with the rest of you.
Together we will remember Fred’s contributions and the legacy to our passion and love of all things Chris-Craft. We will cherish the memories. Our lives are richer having known Fred.
He is enjoying some much calmer seas in the great beyond. We wish him well.
Fred, we bid you, "Hail and Farewell!" shipmate, until we drop anchor beside you at the Last Great Rendezvous.
More Information and Tribute Wall
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/capitalgazette/name/charles-delavan-obituary?pid=210111906
The last time I saw Fred was a chance meeting at the Saint Petersburg Yacht Club many years ago. He was with his Wife Eileen and as a member of the SPYC at the time I was able to show them around the Club and host them to cocktails. The favor was returned at the next Chris Craft Commander Club rendezvous. I remember him having a very gentle nature with quite self assurance. My heart goes out to Eileen and all of his family members. RIP Fred!