Robert "Bob" Jamieson Meurn

Robert was buried in Arlington Cemetery on January 30, 2025. 

 

Robert Jamieson Meurn, born in Freeport NY on May 26, 1937, was a Master Mariner and Captain, U.S, Naval Reserve (Ret). He received his Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point NY, and his Master of Arts in Higher Education from George Washington University. 

 

He taught at Texas Maritime Academy, was Commandant of Cadets and Executive Officer of the TS Texas Clipper, and was selected as Teacher of the Year in 1978. In 1979, he began his tenure as associate professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. During 1981, he devised and implemented the first watch standing course in the United States for cadets utilizing the CAORF simulator. Capt. Meurn was promoted to full professor in 1984 and also served as Dept. Head, Nautical Science Division. He was honored again as Teacher of the Year in 1983 and 2003.  In 2003 Captain Meurn was honored by the Academy with Professor Emeritus status.

 

Capt. Meurn authored four books: Marine Cargo Operations, Watchstanding Guide for the Merchant Officer, Survival Guide for the Mariner, and Anatomy of a Collision.  He was honored by receiving the Dept. of Transportation’s Bronze Medal Award and the first ever recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to safety in marine transportation.

 

He sailed with U.S. Lines, Farrell Lines, American Export Lines, Moore McCormick Line, Grace Lines, and at Military Sealift Command/Atlantic was relief chief mate and master.  Capt. Meurn was an active member of the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he had four commands and his last active duty was as a vice commodore during a convoy exercise in 1988 in Diego Garcia.

 

Capt. Meurn was a member of, and has presented papers to, the International Navigation Simulator Lecturers Conference (INSLC) worldwide. He was also a member of the Marine Board, National Research Council’s Committee on ship/bridge simulation training. In 2014 he was honored to earn Professor Emeritus status by the INSLC for his significant contribution to simulator based maritime education.

 

Captain Meurn is survived by his wife, Christine, daughters Cathryn and Kimberly, step-son Andrew, grandson Charles Thomas and granddaughter Christina Ann.

 

For those wishing to send condolences, they may contact his daughter, Cathryn, at meurnc@gmail.com.