There’s never a good age at which to die, but age 33 is, in my opinion, tragic. Björn Johansson, the head of Björn Johansson Design, died in a motorbike accident on January 17 on the Isle of Wight.
While Johansson began his career working with notable names such as Ken Freivokh, Bernard Olesinkski, and John Munford, he created his own company in 2001. He and his team worked on a few notable megayachts, such as the refit of the Trinity-built yachtfisherman Marlena. But arguably the most significant project is Oceanco’s Y705, presently under construction and planned for a 2009 delivery. The 85-meter (279-foot) yacht bears styling cues similar to the lines of a concept project called Mirage that Johansson created.
Johansson is survived by his wife and two children, his parents, and his brother and sister. A memorial service is being held this Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church in Bembridge, Isle of Wight. Refreshments will follow at the Bembridge Sailing Club. The family requests that in lieu of sending flowers, people consider donating to Johansson’s favorite charity, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which safeguards the waters of the UK and Ireland. Bembridge, where Johansson lived and based his company, is home to a RNLI station that has been operational for 140 years. You can mail the donations to: RNLI, c/o Weaver Bros., Weaver’s Yard, Lane End Road, Bembridge, PO35 5US.
While Johansson will be celebrated at the memorial, he’ll also be celebrated for what will hopefully be a long time thanks to his colleagues at the company he founded. A statement on the firm’s Web site says, “As a family, we intend to continue Björn’s legacy. It is our aim to focus our energies on ensuring his passion and inspirational work live on, as we know this is what he would have wanted.”
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