This afternoon Oley passed away. He was diagnosised with an aggressive advanced cancer soon after we returned from the Global Challenge. This had been the cause of his back pain. The disease and progression was quick and he did not want people to be worried about him.
In respect of his wishes there will be no formal funeral plans. We will have a small memorial here in chattanooga. The thing Oley asked is for people to have a beer in his honor.
He will be missed. His love of sailing and life was infectious.

Sail fast my friend.

Jody Abrams

Cheers! [Raised Glass -- drinking beer]

In celebration of life. Oley, you will be missed.

Perhaps this will bring a few more beers to the table. I never met Lynn; however, he sure kept good company based on these results from 2002.

http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/?Page=2761

I am truly sorry about this Jody and Joanna. I have always enjoyed racing with you guys and getting to know you over the years. I will probably continue to keep an eye out for "Too Sharp" on the race course. You are all very good folks. Till next time. Ed

Although I never met him I am upset. However, I'm sure he'd want us all to go out rig our Cats and enjoy ourselves.
My heart felt condolence to his family & friends.

Condolences from the Key Team and all along the Gulf Coast!!!!!

OMG! I am devastated! I cannot beleive this. The short time I met him he was always smiles, he even let me sail his boat in the GC 2009.

I am deeply saddened and honored at the same time. Saddened because to me he seemed like an inspiration, honored becasue I got a chance to meet him and actually SAIL his boat while he stood bye and watched.

Fair winds to his soul, until we meet again I will have a rum and coke in your honor tonight.

WOW

what!? I'm shocked...saddened. wow. oh man. I can't believe it. Oley was one of the best...ever.

Jody, thanks for posting this I'm at a bit of a loss for words but give Joanna a hug for me and tell her to give you one from me too.
Oley was an incredible and kind person and will be dearly missed. I'm happy to have been able to call him a friend.

-John

Oley was a great sailor, teacher, and friend. From our very first time meeting him he was an inspiration, always helping us learn to be better....and of course harrasing Pat Murphy.

Our sailing family has suffered a great loss.

I'm speechless. Too young. Too good.

Great Hobie 17 sailor - I last sailed with him in the Hobie 17 NA's in 2003.

Words cannot express just how devestated I feel by this. To say it was unexpected is an understatement. Oley was a great person who will be incredibly missed at all the Regattas. My prayers are with his family and friends. I'll go pour one to his memory...

This is unreal. He was in such impeccable physical shape it's hard to believe he was anything other than perfectly healthy. It will be too weird not seeing him around the events anymore.

RIP Oley.

Truly out of the blue.

This coming season I will have a beer AND a sail in his honor.

Cheers,

Wouter

I never met Oley, yet I too feel shocked. As a fellow F16 sailor I'm stunned to think that someone could be racing one week and gone such a short time later through illness. Life just isn't fair.................

My heartfelt condolences to Joanna and all the rest of Oley's family and friends.

I was fortunate to have sailed with Oley once in Charlotte Harbor... things were sporty and we had to sail through a fleet of dinghies to get out to the course. Oley put his foot on the gas so he could "show them little boats what we're about." We were pretty light together, though, so over we went. Oley came up laughing, saying "that's not really what I meant!"

I've always been impressed that he kept a good attitude and had a smile for everyone. It is hard to believe that he is gone. Oley will be missed.

I didn't know him nearly long enough. He will be missed.

Oley,Oley,Oley,Oley, was always the chant at the awards ceremony, because he always won. A great competitor and truly one of the good guys of sailing.

A great sailor, a great competitor and a great friend.

A great honor and priviledge to have known him.

He will be missed on the course and on shore.

Scott Smith

He and Joanna were always one of the first to offer a smile and a hand. He was truely an ambassador for the sport of cat sailing.

Fair winds