Northrop & Johnson broker Robert ‘Bob’ Leslie has died after a career spanning more than 50 years in the marine industry.
He leaves a legacy of integrity, honesty, professionalism and commitment to earning the trust of his clients and colleagues.
Bob’s love of the water began when he restored an abandoned 10ft dory when he was just 11 years old.
The project was a key moment in his lifelong passion for sailing and ocean racing, competing in numerous Newport to Bermuda races, Marblehead, Halifax and SORC races in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, he served a brief stint in the U.S. Navy before returning to a life on the water.
Northrop & Johnson family
In the early 1980s, he lived aboard his Allied Sea Wind ketch in Boston Harbor for several years, and also competed in numerous Newport to Bermuda, Marblehead to Halifax and SORC races.
He began his brokerage career in 1971 with Graves Yacht Yard in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and in 1985 bought the Northrop & Johnson’s Massachusetts office, which he managed for 22 years before selling the business in 2007.
Bob remained part of the Northrop & Johnson family throughout his career, most recently serving clients from the Newport office, while also helping shape the profession as a former president of the Yacht Architects and Brokers Association (now the Yacht Brokers Association of America).
He was also an active member of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association.
He was named Broker of the Year in 1991 and was a member of the development team that created the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) examination, which became the national standard for the brokerage industry.
Best price possible
In an interview for Northrop & Johnson, Bob explained: “I am not a salesman. My job as a broker is to find the best boat that my client wants for the best price possible.
“I don’t sell but rather advise and inform. When I research a yacht for a client, I try to dig deeper than the written listing, finding out as much about the boat’s history, the seller’s motives and anything comparable on the market and what comps have recently sold for.
“My aim is to bring added value to the client in the form of information.”
Kevin Merrigan, chairman of Northrop & Johnson, reflected: “Bob was one of the biggest influences on my decision to join Northrop & Johnson.
“He treated everyone with respect, conducted business with unwavering integrity, and proved that success comes from earning trust over a lifetime. I will always be grateful for his mentorship and friendship.
“He represented the very best of Northrop & Johnson and of our industry.”
Alongside his brokerage and yacht racing, Bob was a ifelong member of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead.
I was also an active alpine ski racer competing in four different leagues in the Mt. Washington valley and competed in USSA Masters regional championships.
He was an avid cyclist, at one point averaging 125 miles a week in the summer months.
