Phil Albert Duryee loved boating in Northwest waters


By Frank Vinluan
Seattle Times staff reporter

At one time, Phil Duryee's technical handiwork with radio communication was commonplace on everything from airplanes to taxi cabs. But the man who built a career with communication equipment was happiest working on boats.

The co-founder of Seattle communications company Ratelco built his first boat before he was a teenager, moved on to racing sailboats and, later in life, spent much of his time with his family and friends boating Northwest waters.

"We'd just go sailing, any place we could go where there weren't other people," said his wife, Sylvia.

Philip Albert Duryee died Wednesday (Sept. 5) at Covenant Shores retirement home on Mercer Island of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 82.

Born in Everett, Mr. Duryee developed early his lifelong passion for boating. He was 12 when he built his first boat, recalled his wife. But he had to sell it because his family had little money during the Depression. After graduating from high school, a back problem prevented Mr. Duryee from enlisting in the armed services.

Instead, he applied his aptitude for electronics by going to work for Boeing. In his early 20s, Mr. Duryee tested airborne-communications systems before moving to Cleveland to work for Fisher Aircraft. In 1941, he moved back to the Seattle area and met Jack Rottler. Together, they started Radio Telephone Service Co., which Mr. Duryee later shortened to Ratelco.

The company started out as a two-way-radio repair shop servicing the communication equipment of taxicab companies. As it grew, Ratelco serviced television antennas and built equipment paving the way for communication devices now considered industry standards. Mr. Duryee's patents include one for a battery charger for antennas in remote locations.

Even as Ratelco grew, Mr. Duryee always found time for his love of boating. He met his future wife racing International-14 sailboats; the two married on April 30, 1954.

With several other boaters, he later designed and built a 50-foot powerboat, the "PS," short for "postscript." Even after he stopped racing, Mr. Duryee stayed involved in the sport. The "PS" often served as a committee boat for Puget Sound races. He also was a president of the North Pacific Marine Radio Council, which served as intermediary between mariners and the federal government.

Mr. Duryee served as chairman of Seafair and was active in both the Seattle Yacht Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club. He also served in the Auxiliary Coast Guard, a volunteer branch for civilians, where he helped in numerous rescues.

Besides his wife, Mr. Duryee is survived by daughter Cornelia Duryee Moore of Seattle; son Schuyler Duryee of Nashville; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14 at 12:30 p.m. at University Congregational United Church of Christ, 4516 16th Ave. NE in Seattle. A reception will follow at the Seattle Yacht Club, 1807 East Hamlin St.