Hale Walcoff—devoted husband, father, and friend—passed on to ports unknown on Saturday, September 30. Perhaps he is on a 15-knot broad reach with the sun on his hip. A lifetime on the water made him appreciate nuance and the power of things unseen. He loved his family, his friends, his dog, his work, and God (not necessarily in that order).
As managing director of Challenge Outdoor, Hale applied the sum of knowledge acquired throughout his career in the marine and outdoor industries (including stints at North Sails, Goetz Custom Boats, New England Ropes, GMT Composites, and Dimension-Polyant) to developing high-tech, environmentally friendly fabrics for outdoor enthusiasts (strong, lightweight, recycled materials for backpacks, bike bags, tents, etc.). He loved solving problems for customers and truly valued every relationship—whether for a global industry leader or a mom-and-pop shop serving a specialized niche.
Hale is an internationally recognized sailor, whose accomplishments include multiple World and National Championships, a Collegiate National Championship and induction into the Tufts University Athletic Hall of Fame, and a Pan Am Games Gold Medal. Despite the public recognition, Hale’s greatest achievement on the water was the quiet joy he found in feeling the wind, anticipating the shifts, noticing the current and tides, and trimming a beautifully shaped sail on a perfectly tuned boat. He appreciated the journey as much as the destination.
When he moved “back” to Vermont in 2020, he knew he had come home—sailing on Lake Champlain, hiking and skiing in the Green Mountains, riding his bike on quiet country roads. He was the ultimate grill-meister, a dancer in the kitchen, a storyteller, hand-holder, Yahtzee champion, and hot fudge aficionado. He always knew when the weather was going to change. Kindness ran through his veins; honesty was the marrow in his bones. If you were to ask him what in his life made him most proud, he would have a long list to choose from, but would answer, without hesitation, that it was his daughter, Wendy. Every day of the week. His gratitude for simple pleasures—whether a golden sunset over the lake or a perfectly grilled hamburger—made him wealthy beyond measure. His faith lifted him up and carried him over troubled waters.
Hale will be profoundly missed by his wife of 31 years, Nellie Walcoff; daughter Wendy Walcoff; sister and brother-in-law, Stefi and Steve Flanders, faithful companion, Olive; and friends too numerous to count, who count themselves lucky for having him in their world.
Donations in Hale’s name can be made to the sailing program at Camp Newfound/Owatonna in Harrison, ME or Addison County Home Health and Hospice in Middlebury, VT
Arrangements under the direction of Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home. Online condolences at: www.sandersonfuneralservice.com
Full Obituary
Hale left his mark in the Lightning Class. He won the Lightning NAs with Jody Lutz and Ched Proctor in 1990 in Newport, and the Lightning Worlds with Dave Dellenbaugh, and Kip Hamblet in Annapolis in 1991. He skippered in the 1981 Lightning NAs at Cedar Point YC – one of his few skippering ventures with Bill Fastiggi and Joe Petrucci as crew. Less than 10 years ago Dave, Kip and Hale all reunited in St Pete during the Winter Championships - they got the band back together - in the same boat they won the Worlds with in 1991.
David Starck remembers, "Sometime in the early to mid-1990’s, Hale taught me the importance of tying my jib tack close and tight to the forestay on the Lightning. As a sailmaker, he played around with a snap in that area but it wasn’t t ever perfect. And Hale was a perfectionist. He was a good man. Quiet but focused. Very smart yet humble."
He will be missed by many in the Lightning Family.