A longtime employee at a Manitowoc boat manufacturer has passed away.
Burger Boat Company announced that Naval Architect Don O’Keeffe passed away at his home at the age of 90.
O’Keeffe was an influence on the company’s engineering excellence and yacht design spanning decades.
The company explains that he was respected for his exceptional technical expertise, quick leadership, and unwavering commitment to sound naval architecture and worked to help shape many of Burger’s most enduring and admired yachts.
Burger Boat Chairman Jim Ruffolo said O’Keeffe brought “discipline and deep knowledge to everything he touched. He was a true advisor, a trusted source, and above all, a real friend. When he said something, you could always rely on it and take it to the bank.”
Beyond technical achievements, O’Keeffe was known for his generosity in sharing knowledge, mentoring younger engineers, and approaching every challenge with a calm confidence and respect.
