GARDNER

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, June 04, 2011 at 06:31:40 :

Independent Journal
Wednesday, November 1, 1967
Page 1

Non-Swimmer Lost Despite Wife’s Effort

An Inverness man apparently drowned last night when a friend’s cabin cruiser exploded in Tomales Bay. The Coast Guard said the missing man, Robert J. Gardner, 35, of Mesa Avenue, could not swim.

His 20-year-old wife, Judy, who is seven months pregnant, tried to keep him above water, but he disappeared beneath the surface.

She was reported in good condition today at Marin General Hospital.

The owner of the boat, James N. Raptis, 46, of Aberdeen Way, Inverness, and his wife, Margaret, 36, were treated at the hospital for exposure.

Coast Guard and sheriff’s deputies resumed their search for Gardner today at 7:30 a.m.

Raptis told the Coast Guard that his engine did not have full power when he got out into the bay, and was turning back to port at about 7:45 p.m. when the engine exploded. He wais he had ventilated the bilges of the 22-foot boat for five minutes before leaving the dock.

The fire blocked access to the life jackets in the cabin, Raptis told the Coast Guard, and all four persons jumped overboard.

He helped Mrs. Gardner keep her husband afloat, but left them to help his wife remove a coat which was weighing her down. When Raptis swam back, Gardner was missing.

The three survivors then swam about 50 yards to a moored sailboat.

Residents of the area heard their cries for help, and telephoned the Golden Hinde Boatel. An employee there, John Shuey, 19, of Kentfield, took a boat out and picked up the survivors.

The boat drifted north across the lagoon to the oyster bed fence, and burned to the water line.

Gardner and Raptis were neighbors and both worked as salesmen for the same circus company.