Philip Hardy (Bodie) Rhodes, of Centre Island, Oyster Bay, died on
May 5, 1998 at Middlesex Hospital Hospice in Middletown, CT, of
cancer. He was 72 and was a well-known naval architect.
He graduated from Exeter Academy in the "Accelerated" program in
1944 and from Harvard in 1950 with a BA in physical sciences. He
received a BSE in naval architecture marine engineering from the
University of Michigan in 1952.
He served in the Pacific with the US Navy during WWII.
From 1952 to 1966 Mr. Rhodes worked with his father, also a naval
architect, at Philip L. Rhodes Inc. in NYC. There he worked on the
design of and sailed on Weatherly, a 12-meter (#17) which sailed in the
defender trials in 1958. Weatherly won the Americas Cup in 1962. Mr.
Rhodes also worked on the design of the first Carina,which won the
1952 Bermuda Race.
From 1966 to 1983 he was partner and vice president of McCurdy
Rhodes Inc. of Cold Spring Harbor. During that time, his firm designed
the second and third Carina. The third Carina won the 1970 Bermuda
Race, the 1982 IOR Division and the Fasnet Race. His other designs
include a 42' and 59' Hinkley, Froya and Zest (still sailing).
Like his father, Bodie was a versatile naval architect, which was evidence
by the Bill of Rights, (95' LOA) topsail schooner (1970) and the sister
ship Harvey Gamage. He also designed the 61' sloop Kahili. His boats
have circumnavigated the globe and made numerous trips across the
Atantic.
In 1987 he joined Oyster Bay Pump Works Inc. as an engineer where he
worked until his death.
His marriage to Patricia (Toby) Fuller ended in divorce. He is survived
by his three daughters Robin Buchanan of Clairmont, CA, Mary Jo
Rhodes of Hoboken, NJ and Renee H. Rhodes of Chester, CT; and five
grandchildren.
Memorial services were held on May 9 at the United Church of Chester
in Connecticut. There was a reception at the home of his daughter Renee.