Diving Industry Mourns the Loss of Two Leaders

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Milt Beard and Harvey Schmiedeke.

Milt Beard passed quietly on December 17, 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Many people will remember Milt for all his hard work on Project Yukon. He was responsible for cutting virtually all the holes in Yukon with a gas torch. Milt was a long time member of the San Diego Dive Club, being the Club’s official “Keltographer”. Project Yukon leader Dick Long donated the Yukon name that Milt cut from the vessel’s hull, to his memorial.

Then, on January 2, 2009, Harvey Schmiedeke passed away. Harvey was one of the original incorporators of California Ships to Reefs and served as Senior Vice President and Board Member from November 2006 through November 2008. He was Founder and Past President, as well as Vice President of Sunken Treasures Society of Los Angeles, one of CSTR’s original sink groups. Harvey was also a Certified Management Consultant, President and Founder of Survival Strategies of Burbank. He was an avid diver and shared his video of dive sites all over the world. Harvey said his “secret ingredient” was his faith, Scientology.