Born London, March 24, 1941
Died London, January 2, 2008, aged 66.
A founding member of High Seas, the Jewish sailing club, Michael Doctors grew up in Walthamstow and Finchley with his two sisters, who survive him, and graduated from the then North London Polytechnic as a technical author.
A volunteer in the Israel army during the 1967 Six-Day War, where he met his South African-born first wife, he worked for Elron Electronics, living in Haifa. He returned to London in 1972, in a career change to financial adviser. He was divorced some 10 years later. An amateur sailor from his teenage boating days in a dinghy, he and his second wife, Annie Markinson, whom he married in 1989, together with a couple of sailing enthusiast friends, put an advertisement in the JC, which launched the High Seas Sailing Club.
The club, which started in 1989, is affiliated to the Royal Yachting Society. At its peak it had 150 members and now has some 130 members, who plan to sail to take part in Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
As its first vice-commodore and then commodore for a three-year term, Michael was influential in setting up its constitution, implementing management policy and initiating a full programme of annual events.
His enthusiasm, amicable nature and attention to detail ensured a sound base for the club’s smooth running. He remained on the club’s committee until two years ago.
Despite ill health from a blood disorder since 1990, he continued working for the Jewish community, taking part in several Norwood bike rides from Galilee to Eilat.
He recently enrolled in the Community Security Trust but deteriorating health prevented him continuing.
He is survived by his wife.