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Suzanne Leahy's Bio
Although Marine Restoration and Salvage has been in business
since November 1999, I have been working in the field for the
past 25 years, as a wood worker, sculptor, builder, cabinetmaker,
and boat builder.
I was born in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated to this country
with my family in 1956. We settled in Marblehead, in 1960, at
a time when wooden boats filled that beautiful harbor. I spent
every season sailing competitively, and hanging around the boat
yards, yacht clubs, and wharves, subconsciously absorbing Marblehead's
rich maritime traditions.
I received a Masters in Fine Arts degree in Sculpture from the
University of Pennsylvania in 1979. I remained in Philadelphia
for 20 years, working and living as an artist, initially far
away from boats.
 
In 1984, my brother, Robert, invited me for a week of cruising
on the schooner Stephen Taber. 
My love of boats was rekindled on that trip, working the ropes,
sailing with the windjammers, talking about building boats.
From that point on, I dreamed of building boats. My sculpture
began to take on boat shapes.
In 1988, I asked my friend John Brady, who was working at the
Workshop on the Water at the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, to
design a small sailboat I could build. That winter, we built
the Isobel, a 16' sharpie.
In 1993, I moved to the Cape, and in 1999, I started Marine
Restoration and Salvage. I have combined all the skills I learned
as an artist and woodworker with my passion for boats. It has
been a long and purposeful journey. I bring all that experience
and joy to bear on every project I undertake.
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