George Landrigan

Captain George E. Landrigan of Lynnfield, MA "crossed the bar" peacefully with his family by his side on May 9th at Massachusetts General Hospital following a short illness.

Born in Everett, MA in 1925, the family moved to Wakefield in 1930 where Capt Landrigan attended Wakefield High School. Among his many talents he was a horn player and contemplated becoming a professional musician prior to the outbreak of WWII. Captain Landrigan was a legend on the waterfront. He descended from a long line of seafarers dating back to the 17th century. Captain George as he was known started his seafaring career during WWII, enlisting in the Merchant Marines at the age of 17 as an able seaman. He saw battle in the North Atlantic when his ship, the SS Yorkmar was attacked and sunk by a U-Boat. He was one of 16 men to survive. In 1948 he was appointed Lt Jr Grade US Maritime Service. He continued his sailing career ferrying displaced persons from Central Europe, victims of WW II to Isreal and Australia in 1948. In 1953 he attended Officers training school at the Merchant Marine Academy, Ft. Trumbull, CT. where he graduated and continued sailing with Farrell Lines until 1956 when he came ashore to pursue other interests. Capt Landrigan became director of the Bay State Navigation School where he served from 1959 – 1968.

In 1967 Capt Landrigan started Landrigan Corporation, a Marine Safety business. He was a pioneer in the industry of life saving. As an active member of the waterfront, Captain Landrigan held and unlimited Masters license, a Master of Oceans and was a Harbor Pilot in Salem and Gloucester for 25 years. He held appointments from former Gov William Weld, former Gov Paul Celucci, and former Gov Jane Swift as a member of the prestigious Seaport Council. Capt. Landrigan was also the Pilot Commissioner for District 1, appointed by former Gov. Jane Swift and re-appointed by former Gov Mitt Romney, a position he held until September of 2011. Among the organizations Captain Landrigan was active in – The Masters, Mates and Pilots, The Boston Marine Society, The Propeller Club of Boston, Foreign Commerce Club, Trustees of Reservations, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, an Active Charter Member of the Marine Safety Association, and former Chairman of the Republican Party of Lynnfield.

Captain Landrigan is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean Drinkwater Landrigan, daughter Laura Landrigan Quill her husband Mark Quill, step-grandchildren Christopher and Patrick Quill, a sister Irene Taylor of New Braunfels, Texas, close nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his Father, George C. Landrigan, Mother, Mary E. Landrigan and brother, Col. James M. Landrigan of Oceanside, California.

His funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, corner of Salem & Grove St., Lynnfield at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Donations can be made in his name to the Boston Seafarer's Friend, 77 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150.




Read George Landrigan's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Service

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
Intersection of Grove and Salem Streets
Lynnfield , MA US 01940
Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 10:00 AM