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In Memoriam – Rudi Seifert

Iris Seifert

May 26th, 2015

April 27, 1935 – April 15, 2015

A few words about Rudi, written by his wife and partner of 41 years.

I do not pretend to be a writer so bear with me about Rudi.  He was a happy, honest, and sincere guy – very sure of himself, not at all a complicated fellow.  However he was stubborn!  Many times it was wise to just agree to disagree.

He was born in what is now Poland in 1935, and remembers their family escape to Germany during World War II.  The family finally settled in a small town outside Heidlburg, where he is survived in Germany by a brother and sister, nieces and nephews.  He had big dreams, 9 lives and all of them were accomplished.

In 1956, at age 20, by himself, he boarded a small ship in Europe, heading for his first dream – going to Canada and America; landing in New Brunswick with $10 and no English.  What were you doing at 20?  Somehow he found others who spoke German and here his journey began.  He spent a year labouring in house construction in below freezing weather and then went off to Elliott Lake, Ontario to work in a uranium mine.  At the mine, he befriended a fellow from Malta, and together they decided to take 6 months and drive through the eastern US down to Mexico, in a new Mercury convertible, returning to Ontario and then headed in different directions.

Rudi heard BC had the most beautiful women, particularly on ferries to Vancouver Island. He was hooked and headed west, spending his remaining years on the Coast.  For some time, he worked for others and then formed his own business as a building contractor, specializing in higher end home renovations, mostly on the west side of Vancouver where he also chose to live.

He developed a keen interest in sailing as a means to travel the world someday, and joined BCA through a mutual friend.  He never bought his own vessel to fulfill his passion to go offshore, but had a keen interest in those that did.  He got the opportunity to crew on a few journeys and had I shared his passion of off-shore sailing, who knows where other journeys would have led him?

As a compromise, he and I loved cruising and enjoyed over 200 days visiting the South Seas, New Zealand, Tahiti, Bora Bora, the eastern, western, and southern Caribbean, Panama Canal, San Blas Islands, small villages along the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific West Coast and Hawaiian Islands several times.  Land travels also were many – our favourites being by train both in United States and Europe, with too many places to mention.  All in all we worked to travel.

Rudi had two daughters and acquired 3 stepdaughters when we married. He also had 13 grandchildren and a great-grandson.  To this end, he had a good life filled with a loving family and many, many good friends. He is deeply missed…

The following is a tribute to Rudi, by his friends Anders Lonnqvist and Elizabeth Angst: (password for video is RudiS)

No more a Watch to stand, Old Sailor.
For you are drifting on an ebbing tide.
Eight Bells has rung. Dog Watch is done.
A new Berth waits you on the other side.

Your Ship is anchored in God’s Harbour.
And though his sailors are of equal rank.
there’ll be Shipmates on the deck to greet you.
And Pipe, as you ascend the Plank..

Her boilers with full head of steam.
Cargo stowed and Galley stored.
Just waiting to get underway.
When the last Hand comes aboard.

Look sharp! That Hand is you, Old Sailor.
And you’ll be sailing out on Heavenly Seas.
So may the wind be ever at your back.
Fair weather. And God speed!

Comments


  1. Donna Sassaman says:

    Dear Iris,

    I am so sorry to learn of Rudi’s passing. He was a friendly and cheerful man. I hope that your wonderful memories of your 41 years together sustain you at this time.

    Thinking of you,
    Donna
    Cowichan Bay

  2. Anne Brevig says:

    So sorry to hear of Rudi’s passing. Martin and I will always remember his bright smile, neat sense of humour and poignant comments. Kudos to Anders and Elizabeth for creating such a wonderful video tribute to a great and kind person whose presence will certainly be missed by all who knew him.
    Anne & Martin
    ex Nor Siglar

  3. Ane and Dave Street says:

    He was always the first person in a room to smile and warmly greet everyone….he will be sorely missed. Our condolences, taken too soon.

  4. Gillian West says:

    Dear Iris,

    I was very sad to hear about Rudi. I remember our happy sailing trip together,

    Gillian

  5. Iris Seifert says:

    Thank you all for your condolences during this difficult time.

  6. Donald Lamb CD RCA says:

    Condolences. One of my fondest memories of my grandmother was Rudi taking her for a ride on his white BMW (approx 1980).

  7. Bill Robinson says:

    Hi Iris,
    I remember Rudi as a wonderful friend and a very, very wonderful man.

    I am truly sorry.

    Take care
    -Bill Robinson, S/V Scorpius

  8. Seifert Burghard says:

    Hello Iris it is wery neis and bieutyvoll Burghard.

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