James M. "Ding" Schoonmaker

1933 - 2021

(News story) James M. "Ding" Schoonmaker II, a world-renowned sailor whose donation proved the catalyst to restore the museum ship in the Maumee River and reclaim its original moniker - his grandfather's name - died Jan. 19, in his Naples, Fla. home. He was 87.

The family did not report a cause of death.

In 2007 the city of Toledo decided it could no longer afford the local museum ship - then the S.S. Willis B. Boyer - docked at International Park. Mr. Schoonmaker read in a magazine that the vessel might be scrapped and then, in a later issue, that it had been saved.

"I was delighted to make a contribution, if they would agree to rename" the ship, he told The Blade in 2011. "I wanted to honor my grandfather in some way, and this would be a good way to remember his name."

The boat for much its history on the Great Lakes was the S.S. Col. James M. Schoonmaker, named for a Union Army Civil War hero who became a leader in western Pennsylvania mining, banking, and railroading interests.

When Mr. Schoonmaker paid his first visit to the vessel, its future remained uncertain.

"He wept with pride," said Paul LaMarre III, then the museum ship's executive director.

Mr. Schoonmaker that day pledged a donation to spark other benefactors' support.

"Ding has not only remained a major contributor to the ship on an annual basis, through the James M. Schoonmaker Foundation, but he has remained my good friend," Mr. LaMarre said. "That moment changed my life and changed the trajectory of the ship's restoration, its role in Great Lakes, on the waterfront, and as the centerpiece of the museum" - referring to the National Museum of the Great Lakes on Front Street in East Toledo, of which Mr. LaMarre is vice chairman.

Through Mr. Schoonmaker's initial $100,000, the vessel was cleaned to bare metal and repainted in the colors of its original owner, the Shenango Furnace Co.

On July 1, 2011, exactly a century after the freighter's original christening, Mr. Schoonmaker's wife, Treecie, rechristened it.

Mr. Schoonmaker was born June 10, 1933, in Pittsburgh and won his first sailboat race at age 11 off Watch Island, R.I. He placed second in Olympic sailing trials in the Star class at age 19 and was named the team's alternate in Helsinki and at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He also won North American, South American, Western Hemisphere and European championships.

A leader of U.S. and international sailing organizations, he received highest honors from U.S. Sailing and World Sailing. He was an inductee of the National Sailing Hall of Fame.

Surviving are his wife, Treecie Schoonmaker; stepson, Julian Gage, and sister Mary "Winky" Worley.

No services are planned. Arrangements are by Fuller Funeral Home, Naples, Fla.

The family suggests tributes to the US Sailing Foundation's Pinnacle Project in Bristol, R.I., or Golden Paws of Naples.

This is a news story by Mark Zaborney. Contact him at mzaborney@theblade.com.