GREEN BAY - Steve and Sara Eliasen didn t think they d ever be able to look at a sailboat again, let alone continue to teach anyone how to sail.
Their son, Owen, died suddenly at age 20 in February 2019, devastating the Oshkosh family. With Owen s help, the family had taught thousands of children how to sail for free via their International Youth Sailing of Oshkosh (IYSO) program. After Owen s death, we didn t know if we d ever run the sailing program again, Sara said.
In spring 2020, the Eliasens had an idea they called Project OWEN: To run the free sailing school for one more summer for anyone, of any age, in northeastern Wisconsin. For Owen. For everyone who learned to sail. For everyone who was isolated inside during the coronavirus pandemic s early months.