Into the Woods

Last week my great uncle, Jim Mertz passed away at age 92. Like many on my mother’s side of the family, Uncle Jim was a passionate and accomplished sailor. His most noteable accomplishment was shattering the record for participation in the Newport to Bermuda race with 30 races, his first taking place in the 1930’s and his last in 2004. He was slated to participate this June. Assuredly, his spirit will blow in the winds this summer, and make all the yachts sail a bit faster.

As I was not particularly close with Uncle Jim, our last conversation taking place a few years ago about his driving across the country in his Mercedes, my words have reached their limit. Nevertheless, the American Yacht club in Rye has a page dedicated to Uncle Jim (though I believe it was created before his passing).

I will, however, add the following connection with my own life. I do not know the details of Uncle Jim’s passing, but I do know that he died on the way to a nursing home after a rapid and abrupt detereoration of his health. Until then, Uncle Jim had never lived a dull year in his entire life and he didn’t want to begin at age 92. From what I know, he participated in the races regardless of the usual medical warnings. I hope that I am able to continue my passions of skiing, water sports and the like until the end my years as he did. Though I will not try to break the record for the oldest person to jump Corbets Couloir at Jackson Hole, when I am trying to decide whether or not to take one more trip to Lake Tahoe against my doctor’s (wife’s and children’s) advice, I will remember Uncle Jim.