Hank Drude, Class of 2006, Died July 11 2009

In 2004, after 25 years with the Cigna Insurance Company, Hank retired as vice president of Human Resources and entered the full-time program at IYRS. His goal was to pursue a very different career in wooden boat building.
After graduating in 2006, he worked at Mystic Seaport on the Roann, a 60-foot eastern dragger and later worked at Frank Halls boatyard in Avondale.
He also had the great opportunity to work at IYRS in the summer youth program and love of his new career turned into a deep passion.
We whi knew Hank will never forget his big heart and kindness. The IYRS family lost one of its most beloved members.
We will miss him.

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Hank Drude, Class of 2006, Died July 11 2009

Phil Erwin, class of 1999

I attended IYRS from 1997 to 2000 (2 year program, 1 year fellowship). I was the first and only member of my class to complete either program--programs in their infancy that would be unrecognizable to students today. Being solo, I guess I was the valedictorian. During that time I was goofing around and made a push stick "too good to use." I passed that on to Tom Head ('01) and it became the ceremonial push stick--if it still exists.
Following that I taught the first year program for 3 years (classes of '02, '03, & '04). During that time I did a lot of the drafting of Beetle Cat parts and diagrams that you may still be using. On my last visit I noted a lot of my original patterns for Beetles hanging on the wall. That was nice to see. I truly enjoyed those years!
After leaving IYRS in 2003, I moved to Ventura, California where I worked as an independent marine carpentry contractor. During that time I laid down, lofted and built through framing and plank line-off a Dragon Sloop, re-framed and re-timbered a Maine-built Friendship Sloop, planked and fitted out an Alden Schooner, and performed a host of fishing boat repairs and dive boat collision damage repairs.
I moved to San Francisco to lead the restoration of the c.1895 National Historic Landmark Lumber Schooner C. A. Thayer which was, and is owned by the National Park Service. Leading a crew of 25 men--most of whom spoke only Spanish--we completed the major hull and deck restoration (replacing approximately 85% of her original 456 tons) in 3 years at a cost of roughly $14 million. Besides driving the crew (in Spanish), I developed the systems for performing the re-framing, the fairing of inner and outer frames, the line-off of the ceiling (8"x80') and the hull planking (4"x40') and did all of the hull shape and sheer corrections. When not doing that, I worked as a line shipwright fabricating and installing ship components.
Following the delivery of the C. A. Thayer to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park at Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco, I was hired by the Federal Government (The Department of the Interior) to work as a Preservation Shipwright for the National Park Service. There, I continued the documentation and restoration of the historic interior spaces of the C. A. Thayer.
In February of 2008, I was hired into permanent Federal Service as the Manager of Historic Ship Preservation and Maintenance at the San Francisco Maritime National Historica Park.
I am Married, live out by the beach, in the fog, in San Francisco, and have sold my truck as I will no longer need to move my tools.

Phil Erwin, class of 1999

Tom Daniels, class of 2008

After working in the white collar world for 15 years I decided to make a switch to boatbuilding. I wrote about this and tracked my 2 years at IYRS in a blog at http://eweandme.com/boatblog

After graduation I worked on the 6-Metre new build, CHEROKEE through December 2008. I'm now living in Stonington CT and working as an independent contractor with MP&G, helping to restore the 1912 NY 50, Spartan. I write the weekly blog for IYRS and do some teaching on the side as well.

Tom Daniels, class of 2008

Joe Transue, class of 2005

Originally from Auburn, Alabama, Joe learned about IYRS through friend Seth Hagen ('02) during a visit to Newport in 2001. After a few years, Joe ceded a career in photography and his then home town of Durham, North Carolina in favor of wooden boats in Newport. Though driven by the aesthetic and creative nature of both, he finds the technical trades more comfortable and can be frequently found using, repairing and generally messing about with computers.

"My independent study project was really a amalgamation of my skills with computers, cameras and boats." he said, referring to his use of photogrammetry to reconstruct a hull shape in CAD. Those who were in the shop at the time will remember Aspenet (the George Lawley & Sons knockabout sloop built 1896) covered with little targets. After launch day, Joe worked on two large projects including the Coronet restoration (as a Fellow) and restoration of Freedom with McMillen Yachts. When Jim Titus moved Mt. Hope Boat Works to Newport, Joe quickly jumped at the chance to come work with fellow alumni Leslie Gouvia and Carson Agnew.

When Joe came across an opportunity to broaden his professional horizons he joined Bristol, RI based Solar Wrights as a renewable energy installer. Though not a direct application of his education, he reports that even constructing photovoltaic arrays can bring about an opportunity to apply skills learned while studying under Lew, Jenn, Warren, and Clark. Joe worked with that outfit in Rhode Island , as well as in Connecticut. Eventually he was promoted to sales as the company has grown in few years at a very fast pace.

Joe decided to leave Solar Wrights , now known as Alteris Renewables Inc and reflect in his career. He was married in 2008 to Amy Thomspon, who, after obtaining her Phd from the University of Rhode Island, in Industrial Engineering, accepted a teaching position at the University of Rhode Island. They live in Guilford, Connecticut and he tries to stay in touch with IYRS alumni. He enjoys, photography, doing things with his hands and being part of a jovial group of friends.

Joe Transue, class of 2005