JAMIE DODSON

According to the bio on his website: "Living in Hawaii rekindled Jamie's childhood passion for learning more about the era of the great flying boats.

 Boats were in his family DNA, after all.

Born in London, Jamie’s parents immigrated to Canada when he was 4. After a year, the family moved to Chicago. 

“My father was a master carpenter and cabinet maker who fell in love with sailing,” Jamie says. “He started building sailboats for a living and I’ve been sailing since I was 7."

“I can sail anything, and I do mean anything.”

Growing up, Jamie was a Boy Scout and a Sea Explorer. When he graduated Lane Technical High School, he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He served 13 months in Vietnam.    Back from the war, Jamie attended Northwestern University, where he met the love of his life, Joan Skawski. They met at a Geology Club party thrown by Jamie’s sister.  

Family circumstances led Jamie to postpone college and take over the family business.

“We made 15-foot sailboats. They were one design, Albacores – international racing class boats.”

In 1980, Jamie and Joan got married. His father died soon after, and Jamie sold the family business. Joan graduated with a geology degree, and Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) offered her a job in Denver. It was the first of many moves for the couple."