Guido Bart, Former Matson Executive, Dead at 87

Former Matson Navigation Co. and APL executive Guido Bart died Sept. 16 in Santa Barbara, Calif., at the age of 87.

The skill musician was involved in the development of containerized shipping, intermodalism and stack train services on the West Coast.

Born in Montana on April 28, 1924, Bart spent his youth studying music in Chicago, and he played under band leader Henry Busse and the orchestra conducted by Claude Thornhill.

After serving in the Army during World War II in the South Pacific, Bart remained in the Philippines, married and began his transportation career with C. Sharpe Brokerage. The fluent Italian speaker became conversant in Tagalog.

He later studied engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed his education at Stanford University Business School.

During his three-decade career at Matson, Bart served as president of the company’s terminal division, and senior vice president and Southern California area manager. He also served as senior vice president of marketing at APL.

While living in Northern California, he served as director of the San Francisco Shriners Band. He is survived by his widow, Kathy Bart, and his son, Robbie.

-- Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @billmongelluzzo.