The Great Lakes Towing Company / Great Lakes Shipyard’s Post

Today we are saddened to announce the passing of Sheldon (“Shelly”) Guren, principal owner of the Towing Company since 1973. Shelly was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 25, 1924, and passed away peacefully in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on August 16, 2024.  His life is a quintessential American story – the 100-year journey of a boy from a poor but proud upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio to a successful and diverse legal and business career, with a strong commitment to human rights, intellectual thought, and a love of art and culture.  Shelly had hundreds of close friends and personal relationships that ranged from deckhands on the tugs to presidents of the United States. The “Towing Company,” as it is well-known, spurred many other marine-related businesses, including Admiral Towing and Barge Company, a government tug contractor; Soo Linehandling Services, which handles dock lines ashore for ships transiting through the locks at Sault Ste Marie, Michigan; Runyan Shipyard, Inc., a Pensacola, FL ship repair facility; Tugz International LLC, a tugboat chartering business; Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co., a harbor towing operation in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and several others.  Shelly graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1942 and Western Reserve University 2-years later. Upon graduation from WRU, he was admitted to Harvard Law School. He became editor of the Harvard Law Review. During his second year at Harvard, Shelly was drafted by the US Army and, after training, was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Shelly returned to Harvard in 1947 and graduated in 1948. He then returned to Cleveland and joined the law practice of his uncle, Henry S. Gottfried, and that fall, at age 23, he became a partner in the firm Gottfried, Ginsberg, and Guren. The firm grew, and by 1983 included 68 lawyers and 70 non-lawyers, with offices in Cleveland, Columbus, and Miami. Shelly’s other business ownership interests included Thistledown Raceway, NY Yankees, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bulls. In addition, he also had ownership in Cleveland Stadium and a horse breeding farm in Ocala, Florida. But Shelly was most proud of the Towing Company and, when Towing Company celebrated its 125th year in business earlier this summer, Shelly traveled to Cleveland to participate in the festivities. He enjoyed every minute.

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My deepest condolences to family and friends. It was a honor and privilege to have meet you while I was with TUGZ International. Prayer's and peace to your Family.

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My condolences to the family. I met with Shelly earlier this summer and we had a great conversation. He was such an interesting man with so many accomplishments throughout his life. Very sorry to hear that he passed

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R. Scott Saucier

Lub-Spec Consulting LLC

3mo

May he rest in peace.

Rosie Rehner

Director at Barnes Wendling CPAs, Inc.

3mo

So sorry to the GLT family for your loss.

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Kenneth Kure, CPA, MBA

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at The Great Lakes Towing Company and Great Lakes Shipyard

3mo

Love this

Curt Bartlett

Commercial Marine Territory Manager at Western Branch Diesel/Johnson & Towers

3mo

Rest In Peace Shelly!

Jeffrey Allan

SDPO Master, LNG /LPG & REGAS, MOT, TANKERS ULCC VLCC OFFSHORE, WIND, DREDGE, CRUISE, CONT, ACCOM, CAR CARRIERS, MPSV, ATB, TUGS, BULK, MSC, LNGs, MARAD, MPS, RRF, SEALIFT, AMMO, UNREP, STS, GO-GO, GO-CO, CONMAR

3mo

Fair Seas

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