Who Are Those Guys?

by Marcia Peck

Charlie White—The Man Who Started Opening Day

Charlie White was born a second generation San Franciscan from Irish immigrant grandparents. His father owned a hay and drayage business in the city and spent two weeks living in Golden Gate Park, following the l906 earthquake. His business continued to flourish, however, and became a lumber business that Charlie and his brother, Thomas, owned , until it sold in l990 after a run of 98 years!

Charlie, who went to school in San Francisco, and graduated from S. I. and U.S.F.,started sailing on the bay with his brother, in l936. He learned to sail hand-built Snipes, and then crewed on his brother, Tom’s, Bird boat, Falcon. Charlie’s brother joined Corinthian in l930 and Charlie said it was “quite a place in those days! It was a true sailing yacht club where the ladies went home at five o’clock on Saturday night.”

Charlie, a CYC staff commodore, spent three and a half years in the Pacific during WWII, and came home a Major. He married his wife of thirty-seven years, Virginia, and resumed his career in the family lumber business. He became a member of the Corinthian Yacht Club in l960, In the early ‘60’s, he and his wife were visiting Bodega Bay and were present at the blessing of the fishing fleet. Virginia remarked, “wouldn’t it be nice if we could do this for the pleasure fleet in the bay?” An idea was born.

Charlie went home and presented the idea to the Corinthian board of directors. It was approved and the first opening day was held in l963. Club member, Joe Redmond, built an altar and they sat it on a Stephens 50 footer. Three clergymen were on board to bless the fleet. Ironically, two of them were named “White”. These clergymen and the commodore signed parchments that were mailed to the 150 boats that signed up to be blessed.

Charlie White has many fond memories of his days at the Corinthian with pals like Tony Souza and George Haggatt. As he sits relaxing on his newly acquired Bertram sportfisher, he laughingly recalls the times when his friend George sank Jack Cooper’s boat twice in the harbor, because he fell asleep and left the seacocks open while working on the boat! Charlie has many great stories. Stop by sometime and listen.

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