From Bruce Landau

The Seeth Family

When I think of the 60’s and Long Island, I always think of the Seeth Family. Growing up in East Williston, they were a big part of my life. There was always something going on in there house. Always motion, activity, energy and challenge. Always a story to tell or to be apart of. Randy and I were good friends.  Don was very much apart of my life too.

I also spent sometime with them in Mattituck. It was there that the love I have for sailing today was cultivated. Donald was the inspiration. Good memories of sailing in a sailfish on the Great Peconic Bay. Don showing me the ins and outs of sailing. Don and I being in races at the yacht club.

One day Don came up with the idea of trying to sail around Robbins Island. Mr. Seeth , Paul and Randy will best appreciate this story.  I was maybe 8 or 9 years. He asked me if I would go with him. He said it would be good experience. I of coarse agreed. Early in the morning we set out in a sailfish, headed east to the north point of the island. This took almost to lunch to do. It was a sunny day. Light winds. What we did not realize was that we were only a third of the way through the journey. We most like likely would have returned home late that night at the speed we were going. Unknown to us, Mrs. Seeth and my mother had been following our progress from the beach in front of the yacht club. They saw us round the point and came after us in a power boat. They caught up to us. There was a lot yelling from the power boat ordering us to turn around which we did. When we returned there were lectures related to “what were you think of” and “do you know what could of happened” kind of thing. We were ground from sailing for a few days.

My family moved to Princeton, NJ in the late 60’s. I lost track of the Seeth family. Many years later I eventually bought a sailboat of my own and started doing a lot of single handed sailing out to Block Island or Newport RI.  From my home in NJ, I liked the run out through the New York Harbor and the Long Island Sound. This route gave good places to anchor for the evening.

On one of my runs out, I anchored one evening at the end of the Mattituck creek. I found a spot next to a boat called Sea Dreams. I took notice of it because my boats name is Seahorse. Someone eventually came out on deck. I noticed how tall the person was and his smile. He asked where I was going and coming from. We talked about the weather and a few other things. He then introduced himself to me and it was Don. I told him who I was and we were both taken back. We did not recognize each other because of the years. I can’t tell you how gratefully stunned I was to see him. It was karma. Meeting on boats in Mattituck many years later.  We had a few drinks, Bloody Mary’s as I recall, and talked of family and the doings of life. I think we exchanged numbers and addresses. I left early the next morning.

The last time I saw Don was at a Blue’s festival in Ft Lauderdale when I went to visit Randy. It was good to see him.

I new Don best in his youth. I only had brief moments with him in later years. But of him I want to say this. He always made me feel like a close friend. You could see his spirit  in love with life and adventures. Always energy. Always challenging himself. A good smile and heart.

As I write on this Christmas Day, I am grateful to have known him. May he rest in peace.

To The Seeths on this day my thoughts are with you.

Bruce Landau