One of my friends from my NASA days passed away this week due to complications related to his kidney disease. Earl Dunham was 67 and was married to another friend Dana Jenkins Dunham. Earl and Dana began dating at NASA while I was working in an office shared with Dana. I also babysat Dana’s daughter, Katie (now Kathleen), several times as well.
Many of my best memories with Earl occurred while sailing. We started sailing his 25’ Catalina. During his separation and divorce, he upgraded to a 30’ Columbia. I went with him to pick it up and sail it to the Langley Yacht Club, where he kept it for awhile.
I almost ended up with sole possession of the sailboat on that first sail. We were pulling a dinghy behind it and I convinced him that the position trailing behind the boat would be the best place to get a picture of his new boat in full sail. He, however, wanted to be the one to get the picture. So I singled-handed the boat while he lowered himself onto the dinghy. Unfortunately, he slipped and fell in the water with the camera around his neck. Miraculously he was able to grab the dinghy from underwater and hang on while we were making good speed on a reach. At first, it looked like I lost him. Then I saw an arm reach around and grab the boat. Ultimately he pulled himself in and then pulled the dinghy back up to the stern against the current. I don’t think he got any pictures.
Earl and I frequently participated in the Wednesday evening race series at the Langley Yacht Club. The races were handicapped, but Earl’s sailboat was not meant to be a fast racer since it was a comfortable cruising boat with overnight accommodations. Or so we told ourselves to justify our lowly rankings and ultimately modest efforts. Mostly we would tack in one direction for a beer, and then tack on the other side for another beer or so.
One time, however, we decided we would actually try to win. So we prepped seriously and even kept the beer below deck in a cooler. We had a good start but given our lower hull speeds we decided that to win we would need to do something different. So one time when the fleet zigged, we zagged instead. Unbelievably, we got much better winds and started to pull away from the other ships. The course was twice around a series of markers that plotted a course of several miles where each lap would take about 45 minutes or so.
When we came around the first lap and re-started for the second and final lap we were way ahead. I think we were something like 200 yards ahead of the next closest boat. We were so excited we couldn’t believe it. We knew we couldn’t do something different during this lap as they would all be following us. But we thought our lead was so strong we might be able to just plain hold them off.
As we re-started the second lap we were making such good time. The winds were blowing, the waves were parting, and it was a great evening sail. Water was even splashing over the bow indicating our speedy penetration into the current.
Then something happened. We were there sailing and all of sudden the fleet started to close the gap. So we re-trimmed the sails, tuned our angle on the wind, and get even bigger splashes across the bow.
But nothing worked. One-by-one every single boat in the fleet trailing us closed the gap. In fact, they zipped past us as if we were standing still. We were silent. Euphoria had drained into quiet resignation. Earl went down below and brought up the beer cooler as the fleet sailed away from us.
Then I looked over the shoreline. I noticed something weird. It seemed like we weren’t moving. I pointed out the optical illusion to Earl. It couldn’t be true as the sails were full and the waves were ripping across the bow. Then we deduced the predicament. We had gotten tangled on a crab pot and were actually anchored to the ground. The fleet passed us as if we were standing still because we were, in fact, standing still. The tidal current and the winds had given us the sensation of sailing, but we were stuck.
Well, we had one great lap! My favorite anecdote sailing with Earl can be found here.
Earl and Dana both ended up being Branch Heads at NASA Langley. Earl’s main research topic when I worked with him was related to wake vortices and was involved in aircraft safety for his entire 31-year career. Earl was a big runner when I knew him, running in many marathons. He and Dana also took off a year and traveled down to Florida and into the Caribbean. Nancy and I met them for a day in St. Thomas, USVI.
Earl was a great friend. I got married and moved away, but we stayed in touch. What was great about our friendship is that even though sometimes years would pass between conversations they would just start-up right where they left off with no awkwardness due to the passing of time and all of the personal changes. I will miss not having the chance to continue those conversations.
Here is what was reported in his obituary:
Ralph E. DUNHAM Jr.
POQUOSON – Ralph Earl Dunham Jr., 67, died at home on April 24, 2012.
Earl was a native of Columbia, S.C., and a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in mechanical engineering. He moved to Virginia in 1967 as an engineer for NASA Langley, where he earned a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from George Washington University. His NASA research career focused on solutions to safety and operating problems of aircraft. He retired in 1998 after 31 years of service.
Earl loved sports. He was previously competitive in tennis and running, and was proud of having completed 10 marathons. Happiest around the water, he sailed many miles around the Bay and off-shore on his boats and those of friends. One of his most treasured memories was the year he spent cruising the East Coast and Caribbean with his family.
He enjoyed his bi-annual hikes with the Gnarly Dudes on the Appalachian Trail where his trail name was Exit Earl, and he was also an avid skier and windsurfer.
The family offers thanks to his nephrologists and the home care team at Renal Advantage for giving him additional years to continue the active lifestyle which meant so much to him.
He was a proud member of Hampton Yacht Club, Windsurfing Enthusiasts of Tidewater (WET), and Peninsula International Gourmet Society (PIGS), and an associate member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Poquoson.
Earl is survived by his wife of 28 years, Dana Jerkins Dunham; stepdaughter, Kathleen Mason and husband, Brian; grandchildren, Grace and Daniel, of Yorktown; and sister, Nancy Dunham, of Columbia, S.C. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Judith Jerkins, of Tinton Falls, N.J.; brother-in-law, Jim Jerkins and wife, Delaine of Garland, Texas; niece, Erin Jerkins of Raleigh, N.C.; and nephew, David Jerkins, of Houston, Texas.
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