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TOM SANDEL: R.I.P. 1953-2009
Tom Sandel, longtime General Manager of Rapp’s Dutch Harbor facility, passed away December 9, 2009 in Seattle. Tom had been, in every way, the face of Rapp Hydema to countless fishermen over the years, having worked for Rapp Hydema since 1992. Tom fought admirably in a twilight battle with cancer, enduring over a year of hardship.
Tom Sandel at a reception during Fish Expo, at which he was an annual attendee and exhibitor at the Rapp booth. | Tom Sandel II was born in Austin, Texas March 4,
1953. The family soon moved to Boston, Massachusetts when Tom’s father
took a position as a research scientist at MIT. During that time, Tom
attended the Longy School of Music where he played trumpet under Roger
Voisin, the primary trumpet for the Boston Symphony. Tom subsequently
played a wide variety of other instruments and was active in his high
school symphony, jazz band and others. He always felt that his life
was at this time strongly influenced and enriched by his father, T. T.
Sandel Sr., whose work was on the cutting edge of new technological and
scientific advances. |
Tom spent one year at Washington University and he later attended classes at the University of Oregon. Attempting to become a professional musician, he played with a jazz group named the Colors. But subsequent travels soon took him northward, through Canada and onto Alaska, where he became interested in outdoor careers. He determined that he was attracted to a great challenge—that of learning self-reliance and subsistence in nature. So he worked as a logger, while learning to hunt and trap as well.
But Tom found his true calling in the fishing industry of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Tom began in the mid-1980s working for the likes of Trident Seafoods and Icicle Seafoods; he worked as Chief Engineer on the P/Vs Bering Star, Discovery Star, Evening Star and Arctic Star. He later became the Chief Engineer of power plant operations at Alyeska Seafoods and later was instrumental in helping develop and engineer Alyeska’s first-ever Surimi Plant. Later he became first Chief Engineer of the F/V Storm Petrel. Then, in 1992, he became the Operations Manager for Rapp Hydema at the newly-opened Dutch Harbor facility.
Tom will be best remembered as the heart of Rapp’s Dutch Harbor effort. Tom was on the front lines during the early days, when the new American factory-trawler fleet went through its growing pains on the way to becoming the greatest and most productive fishery in the world. Despite successful diversification into other marine sectors, it is of special note that this fleet remains Rapp’s central focus after all these years. For Tom, executing reliable spares and service support for this fleet were crucial. On the front lines of working with this fleet, Tom fielded customer calls at all hours of the night, rushed spares up from Seattle, scrambled aboard innumerable vessels with parts deliveries amidst the pre-“A” season hurry, and faced a myriad of other challenges.
Later, Tom played a key role in expanding Rapp’s business. Tom correctly identified a key opportunity when the old Hanson Hydraulics facility closed. Tom promoted the idea that here was a facility that could better serve Rapp’s fishing customers. Eventually winning support of Rapp’s leadership, Tom subsequently orchestrated the acquisition and move into today’s facility, at 2639 Airport Beach Drive.
Inside the Rapp Dutch Harbor machine shop, 2639 Airport Beach Drive | Tom also took the initiative in reaching out to new customers in the longline trade, arranging cooperative efforts with Mustad to service sheaves and other equipment. And beyond a record of success as measured in traditional indicators such as sales volume, Tom’s vast contact base provided Rapp with many new customers and associates. More than this, several current Rapp employees owe their current employ to Tom’s initial introduction. Tom held the utmost respect for the courageous and hardworking people he did business with daily. He genuinely loved his job and felt he had found the adventure he sought earlier in life.
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In his off time, Tom loved food and cooking. He kept a gourmet kitchen, collected wine, prided himself in knowing fine foods and refined cultures worldwide. Tom was an avid collector of books and music, amongst other eclectic interests. An enthusiastic conversationalist with a keen mind, Tom loved to share his wealth of information on numerous topics with friends. He was known for his graciousness as a host that entertained by giving lavish gourmet dinner parties. He was renowned for his annual celebration of the new wine of the season, celebrating within 48 hours of the French Beaujolais Nouveau. Tom spared no expense serving up this posh party featuring rare cheeses, French pates, bouillon roasts, and of course a shipment of the finest red wine of the season. Tom had an undying interest in the fine arts and surrounded himself with musicians, artists, and craftsmen. Tom’s personal contribution to art came through his love of cameras and photography. He spent many hours photographing nature and collecting cameras.
Tom’s lasting legacy for Rapp was his link to people—regardless of political or other persuasion. Tom was a fixture in the Dutch Harbor and Seattle fishing communities. Fittingly, photos of Tom adorn the walls at Chinook’s Restaurant in Seattle’s Fisherman’s Terminal, joining those of various other fishermen that have worked in the Alaskan trade through the years. Tom’s abilities in working with fishing customers were renowned. So Tom’s capacities were diverse, with experience in engineering, power plant operation, refrigeration, and hydraulics--but his main love was working with people, so sales came naturally. He had a very personal approach with people as he developed an astute understanding of the fishing industry. He was known for a sharp mind coupled with a dose of sardonic wit.
Tom Sandel at the Seattle facility, 2005
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As Tom’s health deteriorated, the Dutch Harbor fighting spirit that served him well earlier still burned bright. He persisted well past his doctor’s forecasted date of his passing; and even as he experienced increasing debility, he fought to contribute to the cause, this time from the perspective of an experienced adviser and elder sage to Rapp staff. Amazingly, prior to the onset of his terminal illness, he never missed a day’s work.
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Tom was preceded in death by his father, T.T. Sandel Sr. in 1983; his daughter, Ingrid in 1984 and his first wife, Martha Graham in July 2009. He leaves behind two sons, Wesley and Aidan of Unalaska, AK; a grandchild, Sean Avery of Unalaska, AK; his ex-wife Carolyn Reed of Unalaska, AK; his mother, Katherine Sandel of St. Louis, MO.; a brother, David Sandel of St. Louis, MO.; and two sisters, Martha Haimo of Ra’anana, Israel, and Karin Ellzey of Round Rock, TX.
And so Tom—this one’s for you. All of us—whether inside the Rapp family or not—will miss your sense of humor and steadfast presence; rest in peace.
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