Lengendary Yacht Broker, Joe Bartram, Passes Away

Long-time yacht broker, and industry legend, Joe Bartram died peacefully on December 24, 2013 at the age of 79. Survived by wife Barbara Hart Bartram, and sister Nina Bartram Griswold. Son of J. Burr Bartram and Mary (Sheppard) Bartram, along with nephew, Alex G. Clarke.

Born in NYC July 12, 1934. He attended Choate School in Wallingford, CT. He served in the US Navy from 1953-1955.

From 1976-1996 he owned an estate known as ‘Caritas’ on Converse Point in Marion, MA which is about a 45 minute drive north of Newport and strategically located in close proximity to Woods Hole which basically connects Long Island Sound with Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Newport which is obviously the mecca of Yachting in New England & the United States especially back in the 1980s & 1990s when the yachting industry was rapidly expanding.

An active member and Trustee of Indian Harbor Yacht Club, while residing in Greenwich, CT, until 1976. Joe resided in Marion, MA from 1976-1996. He was a resident of Middleton, RI from 1996-2001. In 2001 he relocated to Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Member of the New York Yacht Club since 1955, where he served on the Race, House and Membership committees. Co-manager of the 1974 COURAGEOUS Syndicate, which successfully defended the America’s Cup. He was a NYYC Trustee from 1994-1997.

Joe started his yacht brokerage career with Northrop and Johnson, where he attained the position of Vice President and General Manager of the Stamford, CT office. In 1997, with his late partner Bruce R. Brakenhoff, the yacht brokerage firm of Bartram & Brakenhoff was formed, in Greenwich, CT. Between 1980 and 1985 a second office opened in Newport, Rhode Island. This location became the principal office, and the Connecticut office was closed. Bartram & Brakenhoff was sold in 1998, and Joe continued to work with his clients and the company until shortly before his death.

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A few stories from Joe’s nephew, Alex G. Clarke:

“During the Winter Holiday Seasons Unkie Joe would open his home to any yacht crew that was isolated in New England away from Family. For years there would be countless captains & crew gathered around the dinner table who became Unkie Joe’s second family, and I am sure he was viewed as a father figure to many.

Another cool story is that Unkie Joe ended up expanding his dock so that it was large enough for a full sized fuel truck to back down to the end. A mooring ball was positioned in Converse Bay in front of his house so that yachts would tie up ‘stern-too’ Med style and be able to take on fuel. In the meantime he would welcome the crew onto the property to relax, normally after running hard with guests or on charter during the summer.

These Holiday Traditions continued from his house in Marion, to Middletown, RI located just outside of Newport, ending in Fort Lauderdale.

I grew up spending the month of August in his guest cottage with my Mom, Dad & Sister. I can’t remember a weekend going by when that mooring ball was empty, always having a yacht tied up like famous yachts such as Stone Face with the Farbers, or Destiny with Freddie Appleton.

Every time a yacht would drop lines to depart, Unkie Joe would hop in his golf cart (with the Snoopy bobble head on the dash) with one of his numerous Labrador Retrievers by his side sitting shot gun. He would race down to the end of the dock position his brass cannon & send them off with proper yachting etiquette with a traditional sounding of the cannon. Of course the yachts would blast there horns in response – normally a battle would begin as he would normally sound the cannon numerous times, the yacht would blast the horn, & this would continue until the yacht would disappear around the point. Classic ‘Unkie Joe’

In his house in Fort Lauderdale located on the New River he had an air whistle installed (knowing the cannon would probably draw too much attention!) so he could continue saluting the yacht traffic as it passes by. Since he lost his battle to cancer every yacht has continued sounding their horn in his honor, and thanks to people Jim Steel at Steel Towing and Jimmy Floyd at Bradford Marine every tug boat operating on the New River has been honoring Unkie Joe for the past 4 weeks helping keep his spirits high & now in his memory.

I was introduced to yachting at an early age thanks to Unkie Joe working on MY Fortunate Sun run by Len Beck, one of many captain’s along with the likes of AJ Anderson who have leaned on Joe for advice & guidance over the years. The list can never be measured as his ethics, good nature, giving spirit, and love has been passed on to generations and will continue to reverberate through the industry long into the future.”

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In lieu of flowers, cash contributions are encouraged to the Carpenters Boat Shop, 440 Old Country Road, Pemaquid, ME 04558. Attn: Robert Ives. Or Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805.

A Memorial Service will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and an additional Service in Greenwich, CT. Dates to be announced later. Please contact Alex G. Clarke for more details.