Earl John Seagars, June 26, 1920 – January 20, 2007, was born to John Waddell Seagars, a textile mill worker of Scottish descent, and Hilda Gertrude Penney in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The promise of a warm climate and economic opportunity led the family to move to Redondo Beach, CA in 1922. Earl grew up exploring the South Bay through his adventures – he was one of the first to surf Paddleboard Cove on a balsa wood board he constructed in shop and, as a passenger strapped to an ironing board “seat,” one of the first to “fly” over the Palos Verdes cliffs in a glider launched by stretched bungee cord. He was a comer newspaper boy, a “Brownie Boy” performer at the Capitol Theater, a high school swimmer and a lifeguard at the Plunge. After graduation from Redondo Union High in 1938, he tried college while working at North American Aircraft.
With the start of World War II, he joined the US Army Air Corps. As a 1st Lt. and co-pilot he flew 39 missions out of England in a Martin Marauder B-26 bomber until he was shot down behind enemy lines over France. He was hidden by the Aurolet family of the French underground for 5 weeks. After Amiens was liberated, he was returned to the states to serve as a pilot instructor until wars end. He remained in the Air Force Reserve for 23 years where he discovered and honed his natural ability to teach. He retired at Lt. Colonel. His pride in service was reflected in his role as President, reunion Coordinator, and newsletter editor for the 558th Bomb Squadron. He never lost his love for flight revisiting his interest in flying sailplanes in the 1960s and ‘70s. He wrote weather articles for Soaring magazine, made flights qualifying him for the Soaring Society of America (SSA) Gold with Three Diamonds soaring award, and served as President of the Southern California Soaring Association, through which he proudly established many life long friendships.
After the war, Earl returned to college, graduating with a business degree from the University of Southern California in 1948. At USC he met Janet Helene Teagle, who became an elementary teacher. They married in 1948, settled in Manhattan Beach and had one son, Dana John. Earl went to work for the Traveler’s Insurance Company as a Manager and mentor to many employees and independent agents. His work took the family to Spokane, Phoenix, Pasadena, Encino, and back to Manhattan Beach in 1975. His inquisitive, caring nature, and teaching skills, led him to turn many professional relationships into deep long friendships over his 35 year career.
On “retiring” he returned to his sailing roots – first joining friends in cruises along the California coast, then into trans-Pacific and trans- Atlantic oceanic races. His weather background from the service and soaring, coupled with his love for teaching, led him to a 22 year position as a Marine Weather instructor at Orange Coast College, navigation and seamanship at USC ROTC, John Neal’s Cruising Seminars, and the Royal British Youth Sail Training Programme. “Uncle Earl,” as he was affectionately known, passed along lessons with an unbridled enthusiasm, the energy of a Tropical cyclone, and a thoroughness allowing him to comment “I haven’t lost a student to bad weather yet!”
Complications of heart disease led Earl to gently sail away surrounded by his family and the wonderful ICU staff at Little Company of Mary hospital. He is survived by sisters, son, grand-daughters and his long term loving companion, Evelyn Woolsey. Internment will be at sea with Rolling Hills Aviation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances in the form of donations to Orange Coast College Sailing – Youth at Risk Sailing Program, Earl J. Seagars Scholarship Fund, 1801 West Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, CA 92663 Attn: Mette.
