Page 23 - Priorities #52 2012-March/April

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by Sean Mclain Brown, Director of Communications
Tom’s sailing career reads like a laundry list of accomplishments. Some of the highlights of his career include: Winning the American Australian Challenge in 1985, the Grundig Match Race in France 1986 and 1988, and winning The Fasnet Race England 1989 as a member of the US Team. As a member of the St. Francis Yacht Club’s America’s Cup program, he sailed all over the world and competed in match racing events. In 1992, he sailed with Dennis Conner in the Defender Series against America’ 3-8 Million vs. 120 Million. They lost, but only by a hair.
Recent Priory graduate Claire Dennis ’09 is currently sailing for Yale University, and like Tom, is also a member of the prestigious St. Francis Yacht Club. According to the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA), Clair was awarded 2011 ICSA Women’s All-American Skipper, 2011 First team All-NEISA Women’s team, 2011 Finalist for NEISA Women’s sailor of the year, and the 2010 US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year shortlisted nominee, among others. Tom’s advice for budding athletes is simple: “You will do better in school if you are competing in something. It will help with scheduling and maintaining an even balance in the whole body. Find an activity that you can do for life.” He recommends any student wanting to explore sailing as a sport, to join a junior sailing team and get out on the water as much as possible.
As a boarding student, Tom says he learned the skills of independence, decision-making, time management, and persistence. He says these skills still serve him well and that it helps him “keep all of [his] tools sharp in the shed.” Of his memories as a boarding student, Tom recalls that his trip to Ashland’s Shakespeare festival was “one of my favorites.” He also speaks fondly of serving as Father Martin’s sous chef when he helped him prepare his legendary pizzas.
Currently, Tom Ducharme and his wife Julie, are general contractors (Maison Du Charme) where they live with their family in Walnut Creek, California. They specialize in custom home renovations. Tom says that the lessons he learned from the monks, as well as lay faculty, stay with him today and that they have helped him live his life wanting to “give when he can and lend a hand.”
Top L-R: Tom Ducharme and his wife Julie with Fr. Martin at the 2011 Reunion.
Bottom: Tom preparing for a race.
Above: Tom Ducharme (pictured third from the left) with Black- aller’s America’s Cup team.