In loving memory of Arthur Mansfield, Jr. - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Arthur Rulon “Skip” Mansfield passed away in Punta Gorda, Florida on July 19, 2024 as peacefully and gracefully as he lived his whole life. He was an amazing 98 years old.

Skip was born to Arthur and Margaret (nee Linthicum) Mansfield in Baltimore, Maryland on April 3, 1926. He was raised in Linthicum Heights, MD and Washington DC. He attended several prep schools in high school (he was a bit of a rascal), educated primarily by the Jesuits. He graduated from Princeton University in 1948 with a degree in history and a commission in the Navy. He remained a proud Princeton Tiger the rest of his life.

He loved skiing, scuba diving, and flying small planes, and he was an ace at horseshoes. He enthusiastically played tennis until he was 96 and played his last bocce tournament at 98. But his greatest love, after family and dear friends, was sailing. Skip loved being on the water and “messing about in boats” in any form, anywhere, at any time.

Following stints building wooden boats in Maine and marine surveying in NY in the 1950s, Skip found his calling as a yacht broker. He developed the brokerage market for Bertram Yachts in Miami in the early 1960s, until he joined a fledgling yacht brokerage on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Skip’s leadership helped build Northrop & Johnson into one of the leading yacht brokerage houses in the world, and, later based in Ft Lauderdale, he was known internationally as one of the elite “Gentlemen Brokers.” Skip enjoyed selling boats for the rest of his life. He loved being on and around boats and the people who also love them.

Skip’s sailing career included countless races and cruises in countless boats, from very large to very small, from very fancy to very modest. He thrilled to sail both offshore and in small bays, and anywhere in between. He competed at the very top of the international sailing scene and with local sailing clubs – and he loved it all. Skip won many awards and honors but never sought the spotlight. He also reveled in behind-the-scenes race organization and race committees at the local, national, and international levels. He wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to have a great time.

Skip was preceded in death by the love of his life, Jane, to whom he was married (along with her colorful her Irish temperament) for fifty-four patient years. Together they raised three daughters, Heather, Bridget, and Deidra, who survive him, in Rye, NY and Coconut Grove, FL. Skip is also survived by his son-in-law, Tom Schumacher, and grandchildren: Sean, Tai, Jesse, and Kierra Wilson; Eric and Claire Schumacher; and Daylon and Samantha Taylor. The whole family will miss him terribly, but are so proud to have loved a man so dear.

Skip never seemed to slow down. He exuded happiness and made friends everywhere he went. It was never a surprise to hear someone call out, anywhere in the world, “Skip Mansfield! How the Hell are ya??”

Skip’s lasting legacy includes a selfless wisdom and an incredible kindness and compassion that he showed to everyone he met. To honor his life, Skip’s family requests that everyone spread kindness and appreciate how beautiful the sky is each day.

Baldwin Brothers of Port Charlotte is honored to serve the Mansfield family.