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Michael William Langan, a recipient of the Leadership Award by the International Superyacht Society, died New Year's Eve at the Dana-Farber/Brigham & Women's Cancer Center in Boston after battling leukemia. He was 55.
Langan was unable to travel to accept the award in person, given to him for his contributions to the standards, prestige and character of the luxury yachting industry. Born in Greenwich on June 9, 1955, Langan started in the sport on Long Island Sound at age 10 and went on to compete in most of the major ocean-sailing races around the world. In 1994, Langan participated in the expedition that navigated the icy conditions of the Northwest Passage from Alaska to Greenland, headed by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury William Simon.
Langan graduated from Greenwich High School and Webb Institute with a bachelor of science degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. He joined the New York-based yacht design and brokerage firm Sparkman and Stephens in 1978 as chief draftsman and went on to become chief designer. In 1998, he founded Langan Design Associates Inc. of Newport, R.I., and settled with his family in Jamestown. His firm completed more than 40 unique designs.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Candace Register Langan; two children, Tom and Annie; his parents Dr. Michael Joseph and Kathleen Holman Langan of Greenwich; six siblings and their spouses, Meg Moore and husband John of Reston, Va., Ellen Langan and husband Steve Krafchick of Seattle, Wash., Katie Langan Santee and husband Kevin of Mamaroneck, N.Y., Betsy Dell and husband Roger of Roseville, Calif., Bob Langan and wife Margot of Portland, Ore., and Stephen Langan and wife Kathy of Bedford, N.H.; his mother-in-law Anne Mickle Register of Chestertown, Md.; brothers-in-law Croft Register and wife Pam and Fred Register and wife Connie; and 16 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Jamestown, R.I., where Bill and his family are members. After the church service, there will be a reception at the Conanicut Yacht Club, 40 Bay View Drive, Jamestown.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be given in Langan's name to the Jimmy Fund, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place W., Brookline, MA 02445-7226.
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