For those that have patrolled the Delta I am sure you are aware of Herb Hickman,  who ran  the commercial salvor called "BLACKFIN".  It is with great sadness that I pass on that Herb passed away this afternoon, July 6th, 2006,  at the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto of heart failure.  He is survived by his wife, Liz Hickman.

 

Herb was a great friend to the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard.  When members were training on the water, Herb would come along on his boat, put it in neutral and jump overboard insisting the AUX help him on board the AUXFAC telling them every step of the way what they were doing incorrectly.  When the AUX or the Coast Guard had problems he was always first on scene, not only to help us out of the problem but to give all a very bad time for getting into trouble in the first place.

 

Herb joined the Auxiliary several years ago wanting to teach and bring our members up to a higher standard. He was an Instructor as well as Coxswain.

 

Many of us have many, many "Blackfin" stories and I would like to not only hear them but share them with others whose lives he touched.

 

With sadness of losing a good friend,

 

Gail Ramsey