Obits

Industry Mourns ‘Kiko’ Villalon, Longest-Standing Member of ABYC

ARTICLE COURTESY OF IBI

By Tony Esposito

One of the most respected figures in marine engineering and design has passed away.

The marine industry is mourning the passing of a mechanical engineer who fled his family’s sugar business in his native Cuba for the US with just five dollars in his pockets, only to become one of the most respected engineers and designers in the marine industry and the longest-standing member of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) shaping the technical foundation of modern boat building for more than six decades.

Augusto “Kiko” Villalon, who passed away on 8 October, was known for a career marked by determination and reinvention

Augusto “Kiko” Villalon, who passed away on 8 October, was known for a career marked by determination and reinvention.

Augusto ‘Kiko’ Villalon, who escaped Havana as Fidel Castro’s Communist regime came to power, passed away on 8 October following a career filled with determination and reinvention. From caring for the horses on the Von Trapp family of ‘Sound of Music’ fame to finding work in design and manufacturing, he embraced every opportunity to learn and earned a business administration degree from the University of Arkansas. He later collaborated with ABYC member Jack Riggleman on boat design and engineering projects, and together they helped shape the technical standards that support safe and reliable boat construction today.

“His energy, knowledge, and stories were the stuff of legend,” said John Adey, ABYC president. “Kiko befriended this young guy from New Jersey and made sure that I would share his love and passion for our industry. He made certain I would never look anywhere else, and his mission was accomplished with me and so many others.”

In 1975, Villalon founded Marine Concepts in Sarasota, Florida, the first US company dedicated solely to the design and construction of plugs and molds for fiberglass boat builders. Under his leadership, the company became a trusted partner to many of the world’s top boat manufacturers, including Regal, Chaparral, Hunter, Cobia, Wellcraft, Yamaha, and Porsche Design.

Villalon joined ABYC in 1962 and served on the Technical Board and numerous committees, including Hull Performance, Technical Information, Stability, and Product Interface. He also contributed to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) harmonization efforts and worked closely with the US Coast Guard on safety initiatives, including studies on carbon monoxide exposure aboard boats.

No age, cause of death, or memorial information were provided.