Michael E. Strain (1933-1998)
Bruce Chr. Johnson (commodore@seascout.org)
Tue, 19 Jan 1999 20:53:46 -0500
Original-From: "Christopher K. Sokolov" <csokolov@seascout.org>
Original-Reply-To: seascout-net@mail.sea.scouter.com
Original-Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 23:31:06 -0800
Sea Scout Ships Corsair (22) and Viking (100)
22 Battery Street * Suite 1100 * San Francisco, CA 94111
415/956-5700 * fax:415/788-5413 * Email: seascouts@dictyon.com
______________________________________________________________________________
MICHAEL E. STRAIN
(1933-1998)
It is with regret that Sea Scout Ships Corsair and Viking inform all of our
friends of the passing of our beloved Skipper Emeritus, Mr. Michael Strain.
Skipper Strain truly dedicated his life to Scouting with a particular
emphasis on using the Sea Scouting program to advance the mission of the
Boy Scouts of America.
THE SHIPS OF SAN FRANCISCO
Michael Edward Strain was born in San Francisco on March 13, 1933. He
attended public school in San Francisco and graduated from the "Old Lowell
high School" on Masonic Avenue.
Mike Strain began his involvement in Scouting as an Apprentice in Sea Scout
Ship ("SSS") Sea Horse in 1948. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Machinist's
Mate on the destroyer USS Rowen DD782 during the Korean conflict.
As an adult, Mr. Strain was first a Skipper's Mate in the SSS Sea Horse. In
the early 1960's, he took command of the SSS Portsmouth as Skipper in 1962,
and became Skipper of SSS Corsair in 1964, where he served Bay Area youth
for over 30 years. During his tenure, he took Corsair to great heights,
winning Council Sail Race Championships, Flagship Awards, and other honors.
In 1975, he purchased two small islands in White's Slough. These two spots
in the Delta are known as "Corsairland" to generations of Corsair boys. In
the early 1990's, he saw the potential demise of the only other sailing
whaleboat Ship remaining in the Council - the SSS Viking. Through his
creativity, hard work and dedication, he brought the Ship back from the
"brink" as an all-female unit, and served as its first Skipper. Today it is
the Council Flagship.
NATIONAL COMMODORE
Mr. Strain was a great believer in the ability of the Scouting program to
help make a positive impact on the lives of the country's youth. Throughout
his Sea Scouting career, he insisted on working to promote the Movement not
only in the local unit but also on the Council, Area, and
National levels.
Mike Strain was appointed to the National Sea Exploring Committee on June
1, 1980 and attended his first Committee meeting on November 13, 1980.
Mike got involved quickly and gave leadership and support the next few
years to national projects including the National Explorer Sailing
Championships, National Jamboree, Sailing School Ships Act and Coast Guard
Regulation, and the BSA National Aquatics Committee.
Mike served as National Commodore, National Sea Exploring Committee from
1984 to 1989 During this time a new National Sea Exploring Committee
Mission Statement and Responsibilities was implemented; a new Sea Exploring
Manual was printed; new Sea Exploring Leader Training Recognition items
were adopted; and the Seabadge syllabus was revised.
>From 1990-1994 Mike was the point person for developing the manuscript for
the new BSA Safe Boating Standards which received BSA and USCG approval
November 1994. During the last few years Mike has served with national
committee members to develop the new Sea Exploring Manual and to provide
important counsel and inspiration to both professional and volunteer
national staff.
Mike Strain leaves a legacy for all future National Commodores and will be
deeply missed by all who have counted on his leadership, friendship, and
support in serving the youth of America.
IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS
It is believed that fifty-four young men and women attained the highest
recognition in Sea Scouting - the Quartermaster Award - under Mr. Strain's
direction and guidance; perhaps more than any other adult leader in Sea
Scouting history. This was a great source of pride for Mike. His teenage
crew members could always count on the Skipper to be at the San Francisco
Sea Scout Base in Aquatic Park every weekend. The youth for whom Mr. Strain
was a leader in the truest sense of the word were constantly challenged to
"do their best" even when this was more than they thought possible.
Over the years Mike made many contributions to other facets of the Scouting
program. He held positions on the San Francisco Bay Area Council Executive
Board, was Waterfront Director at Wente and Chapter Advisor to the Order of
the Arrow, and served on the National Camp Inspection Staff. He held
Woodbadge beads, the Vigil Honor, Seabadge, and was a Silver Beaver
recipient (1974). He chaired a number of committees and programs. In the
last two years, he was Chairman of the Ancient Mariner's Regatta. For the
second time in his career, he worked in this important role at the largest
annual gathering of Sea Scout youth in the country.
In 1996, he founded the San Francisco Sailing Whaleboat Association.
Originally incorporated in 1954 as Reliance Sponsors, Mike conceived of
this organization to a cause he was passionately committed to -
preservation of the sailing whaleboats of San Francisco Bay. His efforts
over the last two years have focused on restoring Corsair and Viking, which
both had been in need of major repair. In the months before his death, Mr.
Strain spearheaded the restoration of Viking which suffered damage when she
had been swamped earlier this year. The weekend before he "went home",
Corsair was moved to Marin County Boat Works, where she will be restored in the
next few months.
Professionally, Mike worked for Pan American Airlines in the early 1960's.
He entered into partnership with another well-known Sea Scouter, Lyle
Galloway, later in the 1960's, building and selling boats. Later, he began
an insurance agency where he excelled. Most recently served as a lecturer
on a variety of industry matters, imparting his years of experience to
others. Prior to his illness, Mike put his Coast Guar
