I lived most of my life near the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. I had my first sailing experience as a young boy with a friend of my father's at Keuka Yacht Club. That experience left a lasting impression on me and led to the purchase of various small dinghies as a young adult. While in college, I was introduced to the Lightning by a close friend, Greg Buckley, who comes from a multi-generational Lightning family. It was this friendship that cemented my love for Lightnings and the purchase of my first Lightning (#10705) in 1985. It wasn’t until after I purchased her that my dad mentioned that the boat we sailed when I was a child was actually a Lightning. Over the next 20 years I sailed #10705 at Willow Bank Yacht Club, Cuba Lake Yacht Club, and Ithaca Yacht Club, meeting many wonderful Lightning sailors. During this time, I also traveled to regional regattas across western and central New York, including the 50th Anniversary Regatta. I sold #10705 and purchased Lightning #14240 in 1987 and sailed and raced her for the next 20 years.

I spent most of my professional career working for not-for-profit hospitals where I learned the value of volunteerism. I moved to Ithaca in the mid-90’s when I was offered the CFO position at the local hospital and took over as CEO of the health system about 15 years later. As a not-for-profit health system, it was the expectation that all leaders of our organization would give back to our community through volunteerism. Throughout my career, I served on about a dozen community-based organization boards. This experience showed me just how much I personally benefited through volunteering.

About 15 years ago, I was given a 1946 Skaneateles Lightning (#1674) that was in need of repair. While starting the work on #1674 in 2019, I came across and purchased Lightning #84, a1939 Skaneateles Lightning. About that time, I visited the Finger Lakes Boating Museum for help on these boats, and the next thing I knew I was asked to serve on the Museum’s Board of Trustees. Through the museum and the ILCA, I became aware of the growing effort to promote and preserve the heritage of the Lightning Class. As a result, I begin to think about the possibility of developing a more extensive Lightning exhibit at the museum including a Lightning Class Hall of Fame. I was thrilled when the leadership of both the museum and the ILCA supported this idea. It has been a pleasure working with all the great people at the museum and ILCA as we work together to make the Hall of Fame a reality.

Clearly the Lightning and the Lightning community have had a major positive impact on my life, giving me years of joy. So, when I retired in 2019 it just felt right that I should give something back to preserve the heritage of these wonderful boats and the people that have supported the class for nearly 90 years. I look forward to continuing promoting the Lightning Class and make the Lightning Class Hall of Fame a reality.

Bob Astrove, VP of Classic Boats, adds: "All credit for the development of the Hall of Fame concept goes to John and his friend Greg Buckley. Apparently, this germinated over a beer. It is happening. All because of John Rudd's force of will, and his managerial and motivational skills."

Return to Previous Page