Herbert “Herb” Eldean — founder of Eldean Shipyard in Macatawa, Michigan — unexpectedly passed at the age 80 on May 9, 2022.
Herb was a lifelong boater, sailor, gardener, builder, developer and entrepreneur. Herb grew up on the waterfront in Chicago where his father founded Monroe Street Harbor. At 8 years old, Herb might be found catching and selling perch off the pier; at 10 years old, he was sailing and racing Penguins at the Chicago Yacht Club; and by 12 years old, he was running the water taxi and launch service. At age 18, Herb helped turn the Chicago River green for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and at age 24, Herb was appointed Federal Harbormaster for Monroe Street Harbor. At 25, Herb was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in appreciation of his many rescues of life and property in the Monroe Street Harbor; this was the first time a non-member of the auxiliary was given this award.
Herb and his wife, Pat, moved to Macatawa in 1973 and purchased a marina with his brother, Roger, and founded Eldean Shipyard & Yacht Sales. In 1995, Eldean Shipyard was internationally recognized by winning the inaugural “Marina of the Year” award. In 1985, Herb and Pat opened the Sandpiper Restaurant (later redeveloped into the Piper), and Pat operated the restaurant until her retirement in 2015.
Herb was a sailboat racer, Commodore at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, and was inducted into the Michigan Boating Industry Hall of Fame. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Outdoor Discovery Center and the formation of the Patricia Eldean Preschool there. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged to the Outdoor Discovery Center at outdoordiscovery.org.
