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Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Heritage Award to honor Ethel and John North

At its September 12, 2015 Boating Party fundraising gala, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will be presenting the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Heritage Award to the Honorable John C. North II, and his wife, Ethel. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation of the cultural and maritime heritage of the Bay. In 23 years, the honor has only been awarded to five other individuals.

The award was first presented by the CBMM Board of Governors in 1992 to Thomas C. Gilmer, distinguished naval architect and designer of the Pride of Baltimore. The award was presented again in 1995 to author James Michener for his best-selling novel, Chesapeake; in 1998 to CBS news anchor, yachtsman and Bay aficionado Walter Cronkite; in 2000 to Chesapeake historian Robert H. Burgess; and in 2003 to William W. Warner, biologist and Pulitzer Prize winner for his non-fiction work, Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay.

Born and raised in Easton, Md., Judge North attended local schools and earned degrees from the University of Virginia and Harvard Law School. Following law school he served two years in the United States Coast Guard and in 1956 commenced the practice of law with his father in Easton. He served nine years as State’s Attorney for Talbot County, eighteen years as Judge of the District and Circuit Courts, and twelve years as Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission, the State’s principal environmental agency dealing with the protection of the Bay. In addition, he has been very active in community affairs, serving as the President of the Talbot YMCA, The Country School, and the Talbot Bar Association. He served as Chairman of the Board of Sailwinds Park, Cambridge, and was on the Board and Executive Committee of the Living Classrooms Foundation, Baltimore. North has also served on the advisory boards of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Maryland Historical Society. He is past Commodore of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club and currently serves as Fleet Captain of that club.

Judge North is the last surviving founding member and Past-President of CBMM. He negotiated the acquisition of much of the land on Navy Point and prepared the museum’s Articles of Incorporation. He currently serves as a Board Emeritus member. For more than 65 years, North has captained the 1882 log canoe built by his great-grandfather, Island Bird, and has won every major log canoe trophy several times over. He and his family also own the 1892 log canoe Island Blossom and the 1931 log canoe Jay Dee. In recognition of his dedication to the region, Judge North was named Admiral of the Chesapeake by Governor Schaeffer in 1992.

Ethel North has been active in a variety of community organizations including the St. Michaels Branch of the Talbot County Free Library, and the Talbot County Garden Club, of which she is Past President. She became a Master Judge in flower show competitions and served in that capacity in shows throughout the East.

Ethel sailed many times as crew on Island Bird, but her greatest contribution to maintaining the North canoes was by providing enormous lunches to the hordes of ravenous sailors, weekend after weekend, season after season.

“As an army marches on its stomach, so do log canoers,” commented Judge North. “We cannot function without substantial food and quantities of Ethel North’s famous iced tea.”

Widely known as collectors and restorers of fine vintage automobiles, North and his wife Ethel were instrumental in establishing the St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance. Judge North is also an acclaimed artist, designing and sculpting all of the trophies awarded by the St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance. His award-winning sculptures may be found in numerous private collections.

Judge North has recently completed his book, Chesapeake Log Sailing Canoes—a Study in Tradition, Speed, and Elegance, with CBMM Chief Curator Pete Lesher and noted Chesapeake artist Marc Castelli. Publication by the Museum is anticipated for 2016, with all proceeds from the sale of the book donated to CBMM.

“We are delighted to honor Ethel and Judge North with this prestigious award,” said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “The Norths care a great deal about the Chesapeake Bay and preserving its history and culture, and they care a great deal about the work of the Museum. Because of their tireless work, CBMM is the world-class museum that it is today.”

This year’s Boating Party—A Broad Reach on the Bay: Charting our Course—helps commemorate CBMM’s 50th anniversary, with a mission to preserve and explore the history, environment and people of the Chesapeake Bay through education, exhibition, and boat restoration programs.

Boating Party tickets are now available at $250 per person—of which $150 is tax deductible—with table and corporate sponsorships welcome. To reserve your table or tickets, call the museum’s Vice President of Constituent Services, René Stevenson, at 410-745-4950.

Ethel and the Honorable John C. North II
Ethel and the Honorable John C. North II