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[quote=jonathan162]I was having a hard time figuring out what subject line to use, but I guess that's as good as any.  This isn't news (it happened a few years ago), but even though the Sea Spray has had relatively little coverage here it's a story worth recording.

Glenmore Sailboats was established in Calgary in the late 60s by Fred and Audrey van Zuiden, and they operated it in a couple of locations downtown until 2001, when they retired and sold the shop (it still operates today).  In the 70s and 80s they also had a manufacturing plant where they turned out Sea Sprays and a couple of monohulls, making the Sea Sprays the dominant cat around here for many years.  I became a customer in the mid-70s (their original location was across the street from a warehouse where I worked for a couple of summers when I was in high school), bought my first cat (the Mystere 17) from them in 1981 and have remained a customer ever since.  In retirement Fred turned to writing (and self-publishing) two memoirs, one of his time in the sailing business, the other of his childhood in Holland under the Nazis.  So the last few times I saw them were at the little release parties for the books that they held at their old store.  I think Fred tended to come across as a little bit haughty, but underneath it he was a very nice guy, Audrey was sweet, and things seemed to balance out well between us though they found me somewhat strange.

Over the years I heard the odd report about how Fred was going downhill with Alzheimer's, but not how bad it eventually became.  Despite it, Audrey was a trooper and cared for him rather than packing him off to a home.  One can reflect on whether it was the right choice, but it didn't end well.

[url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4831664/fred-van-zuiden-dead-soldier-accused-in-wifes-death/]https://globalnews.ca/news/4831664/fred-van-zuiden-dead-soldier-accused-in-wifes-death/[/url]<em>Edited by jonathan162 on Jul 31, 2021 - 04:43 PM.</em> [/quote]

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