George Hart

George Hegeman Hart, Jr. 93, died February 4, 2012 in Old Saybrook, CT. He was born in Hartford, son of George Hegeman Hart and Mary Case Hart. He was a direct descendant of Deacon Stephen Hart. He was a member of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America. He had attended Kingswood School, Tabor Academy, Cheshire Academy, and Trinity College. At Tabor, he rowed bow when the school won back- to- back gold medals in 1936, and 1937 at the Henley Regatta in England. He served in World War II in the Coast Guard Picket Patrol. He worked at Lauder Shipyard in Stamford, and for several years at the family business, Hart Manufacturing Company in Aurora, Canada, and for Alden Yachts in Boston, MA. He eventually formed his own Yacht design business. He married Barbara Weeks in 1949, and they lived in Aurora, Canada, Marblehead, MA, Middletown, CT, and Essex, CT where they lived until moving to Old Saybrook in 1978. He was a founding member of the Essex Yacht Club in 1936. He was a designer of Fleetwing, a racing sloop, and as a member of New York Yacht Club and Off Soundings, successfully raced in many area regattas. In Old Saybrook, he became a member of the North Cove Yacht Club, was a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society and Meals on Wheels. He leaves his niece Patricia Hart Johnston and her husband Paul of Williamsburg, VA, eight nieces and nephews and several grand nieces and grand nephews. Services and burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Donations may be made to the Barbara Weeks Hart, and George H. Hart Memorial Fund of the Middlesex Community Foundation 211 South Main Street Middletown, CT 06457. Please visit www.swanfuneralhomeoldsaybrook.com to leave online tributes or condolences.