Geoffrey H. Spranger ’55, ’67 MAT

Geoffrey H. Spranger ’55, ’67 MAT, of Middletown, R.I.; Aug. 2, following a brief illness. While at Brown he was captain of the sailing team and during summer breaks he was a sailing instructor at Bristol and Barrington Yacht Clubs. Following graduation, he was hired as an English/social studies teacher, sailing coach, and dorm master at St. George’s School in Middletown, where he remained on the faculty until 1971. In 1958 he purchased a Hereshoff Class S-Boat, which he raced for 10 years, winning the class championship in 1968. In 1971 he left teaching to become an associate editor at Sail magazine, where he remained until 1979. He then accepted the position of editor for The Practical Sailor, steering the publication until 1987. In his final working years, he was the salesroom manager at Jamestown Distributors, retiring in 1998. Highlights of his sailing and racing career include being a member of the Newport to Bermuda Race crew in 1964, reporting on racing for the America’s Cup for the Newport Daily News, and acting as copublisher of the America’s Cup Report in 1980 and 1983. His last boat, a custom yacht he spent 10 years building, allowed him and his wife to cruise and race for more than 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Betsy; a daughter; a son; and five grandchildren.