Godspeed, Willard Bond!

6/5/2012

Willard Bond and Jean Steubing Magrett, December 2011 • photo Karen Lynn Ingalls

Last December, I spent a wonderful afternoon in the company of two remarkable artists who'd lived bohemian lives in New York during the heyday of Abstract Expressionism, post-WWII and into the fifties and sixties. Willard Bond, the father of my friend Gretchen, and Jean Steubing Maggrett, whom I've known since I moved back into this area ten years ago, had never met, but had much in common. They shared memories and stories over coffee and cookies, and I listened with rapt attention.

Gretchen and Willard, at the Yountville Veteran's Home in April 2012 • photo taken by Sasha di Limur

In the months that followed, Willard's health declined. He was able to move out here from upstate New York, to the California Veteran's Home in Yountville, where he was given the best of care, and where Gretchen was able to spend every day with him.

The Wave • see online at http://www.annapolismarineart.com • © Willard Bond

On Saturday, May 19th, in Gretchen's words, Willard "cast off for the final time and set sail for his voyage into the mysterious unknown. He departed this realm under calm seas and a gentle wind." Words well suited for a sailor and marine painter, whose paintings of racing sailboats are unexcelled.... I'm very glad I got to meet him.

You can see some of his work online at http://www.annapolismarineart.com/WillardBond.html

You can also read about our visit in December here (scroll down to read the first post).

A little addendum on June 10th: Willard Bond's obituary was published in today's New York Times (mmm - actually, it looks like tomorrow's), with a good summary of his life and artwork. You can read it at Willard Bond, Vivid Artist of Yachting, Dies at 85. The photo of Willard on his sailboat comes from the article.

2 Comments

Troy Corley

8/11/2012 08:24:11 am

I came across Willard's NY Times obituary sadly and unexpectedly, after telling a friend about how I came to know Willard and how I spent a remarkable six weeks with him on the island of Jamaica. My father, actor Pat Corley, was a friend of Willard's in the 1960s and 70s, no doubt meeting at an off-Broadway theater. My mother, Iris, and my father, counted several artists as friends, including Willard who was in his SoHo loft at the time. He had an amazing swing that hung from the loft. I stayed a few days in that loft with him and his daughter Gretchen. I When Willard wanted to take his Geodesic dome idea to Jamaica, my father somehow helped fund that trip -- with the condition that Willard take me with him. So at age 9 or 10 I found myself living in the jungle with this amazing visionary. We spent one evening cutting plastic straws and stringing them together to create Geodesic models. Every time I see a Geodesic dome house I think of him and our adventure together.
I'm sorry to have lost touch with Willard, Lois and Gretchen and wish the family well. My father passed on in 2006, and I find it telling and that both he and Willard had obituaries in the esteemed NY Times.

Karen Lynn link

8/12/2012 04:04:51 am

Troy, I will be glad to pass this along to Gretchen - I'm sure she will appreciate hearing from you, and hearing about your times with Willard! What a wonderful adventure you had, and what wonderful memories!

Appreciatively,
Karen

Godspeed, Willard Bond!

Leave a Reply.

Karen Lynn Ingalls

Archives

Categories