Capt. Ryan Wojtanowski recites his Ode to Hokule’a to the visiting crew during a gathering with members of the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. Wojtanowski died suddenly May 26. Photo by Jeanne Theismann.
Captain Ryan Wojtanowski, longtime head captain of the Dandy Dinner Boats in Alexandria, died suddenly May 26 after suffering a massive heart attack.
A longtime resident of Del Ray, Wojtanowski was also the city’s newest poet laureate, having been named to the position April 18. He was also an accomplished musician, playing trombone in Captain Ry’s quartet, which performed frequently on board the Dandy.
Wojtanowski recently welcomed the Hawaiian canoe Hokule’a to the Alexandria waterfront with an original poem, which he recited May 17 to Hokule’a crew members during a presentation to the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.
Wojtanowksi leaves behind his wife Jan. Funeral arrangements are still pending.