"Luiz, I miss you. I am so sad to see you move on so early. You are a wonderful human and even better friend. Ever since we met, you did it all. Helped me build Charleston Race week, We raced together over and over, and even, at your own expense, met me at every stopover during my last round the world race to help and be a great friend and support network. I MISS YOU! unitl we meet again please rest in peace. I will bring the rum and can't wait to share it!! I love You Bro, Brad, AKA Poppa Bear"
In loving memory of
Luiz Eduardo Kahl
March 28, 1961 - September 25, 2021
Please join the link below for a livestream on Luiz's Funeral Mass on Friday, October 1 at 12 Noon.
https://fb.me/e/4KPOLq5dA
The link below is for the livestream of the Celebration of Life at Bayview Yacht Club Friday, October 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
https://fb.me/e/I5n6rz6D
Luiz Eduardo Kahl, an innovative software developer, passionate sailor, longtime member of Bayview Yacht Club and founder/owner of Yacht Scoring with friends around the globe, passed away on Sept. 25. He was 60.
Born in Houston, Texas while his father was in graduate school there, Kahl and his family members returned to their native Brazil when he was an infant. They lived in Campinas in the state of Sao Paulo for two decades. Kahl celebrated his Brazilian heritage, introducing Michigan friends, for example, to Brazilian barbeque in his backyard.
With a grandfather who was a pilot in the Brazilian air force, as a child Kahl was fascinated with airplanes as well as the ocean. He took up scuba diving and sailing, the latter a passion that eventually would translate to his hobby, lifestyle and professional career.
Kahl started college in Brazil as an engineering student and moved with his family to Buffalo, New York in 1981. He attended the University of Buffalo, University of New Mexico and graduated from Canisius College with a bachelor of science degree in marketing in 1986. His family owned a boat called "Business," that the family sailed on Lake Ontario.
After college, Kahl first worked for Trico Products Corp., a Buffalo-based windshield wiper company, and began teaching himself coding. In 1988, he joined The Hoosier Magnetics Group in Toledo, Ohio, and then moved to Spiralock Corp. in Madison Heights, Mich. in 1992 where he worked for six years before launching his company, Interactive Creations, in 1995. His work won award for both its interactive software and website development. He would leave corporate work for full-time self-employment in 1998.
In 1995 he joined Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit and became an active racer and invaluable volunteer. He was the 2005 and 2022 Bayview Mackinac Race Chair, a two-time assistant chair, the 2017 chair of the club's nominating committee and chair of the 2007 National Offshore One Design regatta.
Kahl volunteered for countless hours of local race committee work and regatta administration. With a cap on his head, a twinkle in his eye and possibly a rum drink in hand, members could often socialize with him at his beloved Bayview clubhouse where he was always eager to provide wise counsel about event management, website design and other sailing-related matters.
On the water, Kahl crewed on dozens of boats, winning numerous events around the country. On the Great Lakes, he sailed in Mackinac Races on Lakes Huron and Michigan, the Trans-Superior Race and countless weekend regattas and weekday club races. He competed on yachts in the Caribbean circuit including the Miami-to-Havana Race in 2016, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, the BVI Sailing Festival and the Rolex International Regatta. In Europe, he completed in the famed Fastnet Race and Cowes Race Week. From wherever he was, he always sent photos to his mother and other family members saying, "Check this out."
Local sailors have stories they'll remember and retell for decades about Kahl, including one about Kahl's everlasting optimism. He was part of a Thistle team competing in the Detroit Regional Yachting Association's one-design event at Crescent Sail Yacht Club. His team finished a few points out of first place. Kahl, with his trademark grin, shared that unlike the winners, his team would still be popular. "No one hates you when you're second," he said, a phrase used to this day by those who sailed with him that weekend.
In 2006, Kahl combined his yacht racing experience, software coding skills and event management work. He launched Yacht Scoring, a regatta management platform that grew to include some 400 events in 2019. The company became the leader in online, real-time sailing event management for scoring, registration and communication. Yacht Scoring is used by regattas around the world, impacting thousands of sailors each year.
In addition to Bayview, Kahl was also a member of the Storm Trysail Club in Larchmont, New York, where he served on the board of governors from 2008-2009, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, in London. He was the executive director of the US-IRC Foundation from 2008-2011 and served as the director of the Southern Ocean Racing Conference beginning in 2007.
In 2011 Luiz reconnected with his college sweetheart Claudia Mori who brought his Brazilian side back to life and with whom he has shared the last several years.
Kahl is survived by his mother, Sonia Kahl, his sister and brother in law, Cristiana (Kahl) and Daniel Collins, his brother and sister-in-law Gui and Janet Kahl, and their sons, Justin, Matthew and Christopher.
A viewing will be from 4 - 8 p.m., scripture services at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30 at Verheyden Funeral Home, 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park. The funeral mass is at noon, Friday, Oct. 1 at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms followed by a Celebration of Life from 3-7 p.m. at Bayview Yacht Club (live streaming from 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
The family asks that donations be made "In Memory of Luiz Kahl" to the Bayview Yacht Club Renovation Fund, 100 Clairpointe, Detroit, MI 48215.
Tributes
"Sônia, eu estou mandando você muito amor. You?re in prayers daily. May the universe provide you and your family love and support during your grief. Love and Peace, Elba Sette-Camara"
"Tia Sônia, Gui e Kitty, meu coração e minhas preces estão com vcs neste momento difícil! Sintam-se abraçados! Bjs "
"My heart and prayers are with you, minha tia querida, Cristiana e Guilherme. Um beijo grande, Adriana"
"Luiz Eduardo foi Texano e eu quase fui com ele. Nossos pais, já velhos jovens amigos, terminaram juntos seu mestrado em Houston e eu não nasci lá por questão de poucos meses. Fui para o Rio e ele para Campinas. Os nomes de Tio Kahl, Tia Sônia, Kitty , Gui e Luiz Eduardo sempre fizeram parte de minha vida, mesmo sem convivência. Volta e meia nossos pais nos atualizavam sobre a família Kahl e segui assim com a sensação de que os conhecia sem conhecer. Um ou outro encontro na infância e na adolescência mantiveram a sensação de proximidade. Em 86 passei algumas semanas em Buffallo e NY e lá tive o privilégio de o conhecer de fato, apesar de vinte e cinco anos de conhecimento sem convívio real, um cara que imediatamente me cativou. Alegre de um jeito manso, companheiro, bom ouvinte, simples, sensível e fundamentalmente: bom. Não nos vimos mais seguindo nossa história paralela sempre recebendo fotos e notícias . Levo comigo o privilégio de ter acompanhando sua história contada sempre com carinho por meus pais e pelo luxo de ter tido convivência que não se mede pela régua do tempo mas pela do coração e valores. Beijo no coração dos que tem essa saudade imensa, do tamanho do privilégio do convívio. Mario Henrique Martins"
"Muita força para toda a família.Fiquem em paz, assim como o Luiz Eduardo está agora.Sua passagem valeu a pena e fez a diferença."
"A kind person with a broad, warm-hearted smile. May your trip be safe and beautiful. "
"Luiz will be sadly missed at Augusta Court he was so friendly and helpful. I am so glad we got to celebrate with him for his 60th Birthday. We loved his infectious smile. Prayers to you Sonia and Family. He was to young to leave us."
"Your smile, your cheery optimism, the ability to catch up as if it has only been days instead of years, the impish twinkle in your eye, these will forever remind me of you. Gone from my sight - Fair winds my friend. "
"One of the pleasures of working on sailboat race management these past years has been the opportunity to have worked with you. You have been a source of knowledge, professionalism and a friend and just a great guy to work with both on and off the race course. You will be missed. "
"My feelings for the family and may God comfort them at this time. Make your journey in peace my friend! Melany (Moacir's wife)."
"My biggest and best friend, Brother of the Heart! May God receive you with open arms! Go in peace! My feelings for Sonia, Kitty and Gui !!"
"Those of us in the Caribbean owe a huge thank you to Luiz for his help promoting our regattas. He was a wonderful caring individual and we all suffer from his passing. Above all he seemed to generate lasting friendships in his travels. "
"I was fortunate to meet Luiz many years ago and was always impressed with his efforts to make things go smoothly and his level of professionalism. He was an asset to the sport of sailing and his software powered many regattas. He will be missed by all who knew him. Rest In Peace Luiz."
"Luiz, your passing leaves a deep crater in our hearts bigger than you may ever know and very reminiscent of the impact of your legacy. Always a gentlemen, despite what the world threw at you that given day, it was always more about us than you. Always a cheerleader- challenging me (or anyone) to strive harder and to demand more- you made the people around you better by enabling us to be better. If I could count how many times you told me to ?be that guy? and to ?do it then? I wouldn?t have nearly enough fingers to tally it. I?ll miss your optimism and genuine nature as a person, friend and mentor. You left your mark my friend and I?ll never forget the wonderful times we shared together. Fair winds and I?ll see you on the other side. "
"Luiz was an ambassador for our sport. He supported sailors, invested countless hours to helping regattas, race management, doing what he loved and making the greatest impact possible. Not seeing him at events is going to be tough-not to mention weird. It just won?t be the same. Always had a smile on his face, and he was always ready to help and do what he does best. Gone too soon friend. Fair winds. Rest easy. Next rummer is for you. ? "
"I was devastated to hear of Luiz?s passing?way too soon. We always shared birthday wishes as fellow Aries!! Was a true gentleman and cherished time together at StFYC. My condolences to his family and to Claudia. "
"So sorry to hear about Luiz yesterday- he was certainly a fixture on the finish line for the Port Huron-Mackinac Race- if the finish line had any issues, it seems like he was just there instantly- always kept us running, day or nite, smile on his face and eager to get us back up and recording those finishes. . He will be sorely missed for sure. It was my pleasure, all the years working the finish line, to know him and to count on him. So very sorry for your loss."
"Luiz was a joy to sail and work with. As members of Storm Trysail Club we shared many times at regattas and parties, and were crew mates in a Fastnet Race between England and Ireland. Luiz will be missed by sailing friends worldwide. Rich du Moulin"
"Pessoa diferenciada e que fará falta aos seus familiares e amigos!! Que Deus conforte toda a sua família e o receba no oceano do céu para poderem velejar muito! Abraço fraternal... Dedé (Notre Dame).
Different human beings that will be missed by your family and friends!! May God comfort all your family and receive you in the ocean of heaven so you can sail a lot! Fraternal hug... Dedé (Notre Dame)"
"Um grande amigo de adolescência, companheiro de muitas excursões de Caloi 10, sempre pronto a ajudar. Belas lembranças e realizações de uma época que nos forjou para sermos adultos do bem. "
"Bom amigo, grande homem, deixou sua marca"