By BILL HUGHES
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 12, 2002)

LARCHMONT — The family and friends of an avid sailor who died of cancer last week gathered at the Larchmont Yacht Club yesterday for a memorial service that culminated with her ashes being spread at sea in the waters of Long Island Sound.

Hope Becker, a lifelong sailor and New Rochelle resident who died at the age of 56, was remembered by many as a tough but kind woman with an eccentric streak and a deep passion for the ocean. More than 100 people attended a ceremony at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Greenwich, Conn., then traveled to Larchmont for the ceremony to scatter her ashes.

During her lifetime, Becker had been, among other things, a banker, a pilot, an editor, a librarian, a businesswoman, a teacher and, most recently, an admissions officer at the New York State Merchant Marine Academy at Fort Schuyler in the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx. She also raced her International One Design sailboat in many championship races.

"Some people just do one thing in their lives," said the Rev. Michael Moynihan, the pastor of St. Michael's, who presided over the church service. "In a short amount of years, Hope was able to achieve so many things. But above all these things, she was a good friend to so many people here."

Becker recently joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and had her will changed to stipulate that her ashes be scattered from the stern of the Patrolman Henry Walburger, a ship dedicated to Flotilla 67, to which she belonged. Before heading out into the water, a group of her relatives, fellow auxiliary members and friends gave brief speeches on the porch of the yacht club as a steady rain fell in Larchmont Harbor.

"It's rough to lose both a friend and a mentor," said Lynn Valenti, a neighbor of Becker's who joined the auxiliary and went through the training necessary to qualify as a crew member with her. "If I walk away with anything, it will be just how free she was with information about sailing, about the sea and about life in general."

Many friends who had sailed with Becker since she was a young girl spoke about her enthusiasm for the sea, her wry sense of humor and her strong character and spirit. Becker's brother, Christian, invited anyone willing to brave the weather to accompany the ship carrying her ashes out into the harbor, adding that Hope was probably watching the rain whip up and laughing.

"For those of you who don't want to come or aren't dressed properly, that's fine. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. But for the rest of you, as she was always fond of saying, 'Let her rip.' "

Rain continued to fall steadily as Becker's ashes were carried aboard the Patrolman Walburger past an honor guard standing at attention on the ship's starboard side. Another group donned rain gear and piled into an open launch provided by the yacht club.

The two vessels slowly motored out just beyond the entrance to the harbor, then paused while taps was played and a bell was rung eight times — the traditional signal for end of watch. Becker's brother and sister, Carol Ann Kapp, then threw out a wreath and spread her ashes, followed by 56 flowers, one for every year of her life. The mourners on the accompanying launch also tossed flowers into the choppy waves.

"This was a woman who truly lived life to the fullest," said Robert Daraio, another crew member and friend. "She was a hell of a friend, a hell of a sailor, and I'll really miss her."