Jim Hauser Has Passed

It is with extreme sorrow that we all lost a true friend yesterday in the person of Jim Hauser. I first met Jim at Lake X in 1964. He worked for many years with the Kiekhaefer Mercury Corporation. He also served in the US Army and, while in Viet Nam, he suffered a severe stab wound in hand-to-hand combat with Viet Cong. Later he was a successful yacht broker in south Florida. We reconnected via the internet and “Screamandfly” forums in February 2005. We met in person again at Brownie’s 2008 “Legends of Offshore” gathering. Shortly thereafter, Jim called me and suggested that we arrange another gathering of all the old boat racers from “back in the day”. Thus was born OFF2009. At that event, Cadillac McDaniel joined us and we became the “Three Amigos” for OFF2010 and OFF2011. Despite significant health problems, Jim worked tirelessly to make OFF a wonderfully pleasant event for all that attended. I shall fondly, and forever, remember his smile and easy-going mannerisms. – Steve Sirois