The family of a young man who lived and played on the Chesapeake Bay and worked as a marine services tech is holding an upcoming waterfront concert in his honor. With funds raised at Rock the Bo’, they hope to give other kids opportunities to realize their dreams in the marine industry.
Eight months ago, Nick Schewe, just 22 years old and engaged to be married, was killed in a car crash. He was working at Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland, at the time, where he was thriving in his role. That stormy January night, the car he was riding in hydroplaned on a back road and Schewe didn’t survive.
Nick Schewe started working in the marine trades as a young teen.
Schewe, who trained as a boat mechanic at Marine Mechanics Institute in Florida, had returned to Maryland and found work with Oasis Marinas, first at McDaniel Yacht Basin and then at Shelter Cove, both in his hometown of North East. He took on a new challenge by moving to the much-larger Sunset Marina, home of the White Marlin Open and one of Ocean City’s busiest marinas.
Schewe’s father, Dan Schewe, says his son’s interest in the marine trades started early. The family had held a slip at McDaniel Yacht Basin for 18 years and as a teen, Nick was “the go-to kid” for other slipholders, washing their boats, putting on canvas covers and bottom painting. When he was 15, he started working summers on the yard crew and later set a goal to become a boat mechanic. He was ultimately hoping to pursue a career as a diesel mechanic, and maybe even operate a charter boat with his dad, Dan tells us.
They’re holding Rock the Bo’ at the Bohemia River Winery Sept. 21, 3-7 p.m. It’s just a few weeks before Nick was set to marry Breann and hopefully, will provide a welcome distraction to those who loved him. The concert features the Party Fowl band, a regional musical group who “likes to keep the party going”.
Dan recommends bringing a chair or blanket if you want to sit on the hill overlooking the Bohemia River. Bohemia Manor will have food and drinks available, and will donate a portion of the proceeds to the marine trades program fundraising effort. There will also be a 50/50 drawing and other chances to win thanks to generous community businesses. Stay tuned for some of those offerings.
The concert is free, but all donations will go towards the Cecil College Marine Service Technician program, a new trade program launched in 2023 at the college in northern Maryland. Chesapeake Bay Magazine wrote about the new program last December, and Dan Schewe says when he and Nick saw the article, they wished the Cecil College program had been available when Nick was looking.
Now, Dan’s goal is to make Cecil College “one of the best Marine Mechanics program in the country,” he says.
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