Robert T. Healey Sr., Viking Yachts Co-Founder, Dies at 92

Robert T. “Bob” Healey Sr., co-founder and longtime chairman of Viking Yachts, has died at the age of 92. Over more than half a century he helped build Viking into the world’s preeminent sportfishing yacht manufacturer, led a successful national effort to repeal the federal luxury tax that threatened the industry, and devoted his later years to philanthropy, education and community service.

From Bass River Marina to Viking Yachts

Bob and his brother Bill purchased and developed Bass River Marina in New Gretna, New Jersey, in the 1950s. In 1964 they acquired the wooden-boat builder Peterson-Viking, renamed it Viking Yachts and moved the operation to land adjacent to their marina. Under their leadership Viking grew into the largest manufacturer of sportfishing yachts in the world. Bob served as the company’s lawyer, chief executive and financial backer, acting as Chairman of the Board for 57 years while Bill concentrated on boat design and production.

Standing Up to the Federal Luxury Tax

In 1991 the federal government imposed a 10 percent luxury tax on yachts, a measure that nearly devastated the American boatbuilding industry. Hundreds of companies closed and thousands of workers lost their jobs; Viking was forced to close a Florida plant and reduce its workforce from around 1,500 to 65. Rather than accept defeat, Bob Healey organized a national grassroots campaign to challenge the tax. He rallied displaced boatbuilders to travel to Washington, D.C., to press their case, and staged vivid public protests—one notable demonstration involved burning a boat on a barge in Narragansett Bay as a stark symbol of the industry’s peril.

The campaign proved effective. Persistent lobbying and public pressure led to the repeal of the luxury tax in 1993, restoring stability to Viking and to many businesses across the marine industry. Pat Healey, Viking’s president and CEO and Bob’s nephew, credited him with saving jobs throughout the sector and with framing the repeal as fundamentally a jobs issue for hard-working families.

Business Growth and Industry Leadership

With the tax repealed, Viking returned to growth. Bob used his personal savings to finance tooling and the development of new models while maintaining his roles as company counsel and executive leader. In 1996 the Healey brothers helped launch the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable fisheries and healthy marine habitats; Viking has supported the RFA with significant contributions. That same year they established Viking Sport Cruisers to distribute high-end British-built cruising yachts in North America through Viking’s dealer network.

Bob, Bill and Pat were recognized with the Ernst & Young 1998 New Jersey Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Fifteen years later the family earned a second Ernst & Young honor. The brothers were inducted into the National Marine Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame in 2003 for their lasting contributions to the marine industry, and in 2019 they received the IBI-METSTRADE Boat Builder Lifetime Achievement Award.

Philanthropy, Education and Community Service

Beyond business, Bob Healey invested heavily in philanthropic work. He founded the Healey International Relief Foundation and supported projects that provided housing, medical care, education, food and clean water to communities in Sierra Leone. He helped build schools in underserved regions of Mexico and launched initiatives closer to home, including the Healey Education Foundation and the Catholic Partnership Schools in Camden. With his wife Ellen he also co-founded the Gleneayre Equestrian Program for at-risk youth.

Bob’s civic and charitable work earned numerous honors: induction into the New Jersey Marine Trade Association Hall of Fame, the Rowan University Milestone Award, the Lewis Katz Excellence in Education Award, the Beacon of Light Award, the Catholic Charities Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Award for Leadership, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Scranton and the Shield of Loyola Award from St. Joseph’s University.

Legacy

Bob Healey was remembered by family and colleagues as a determined leader, a shrewd lawyer and businessman, and a generous philanthropist. He combined a practical understanding of manufacturing and finance with a deep commitment to faith and community service. His actions not only preserved a major American manufacturer but also helped protect thousands of jobs and supported a range of charitable causes at home and abroad.

“My father was a good man with a deep faith and commitment to service,” said Bob Jr., who has followed the family’s tradition of public service and recently announced a run for Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd District. “He believed our worth in life is measured by our contributions to others, and he worked to lift people and communities throughout his life.”