Andrew F. Knopp Jr., retired river pilot

Andrew F. Knopp Jr., 89, passed away Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fla., after a brief illness. Andy was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 30, 1935.   

During his childhood, he and his family moved to Cape May, N.J. Andy graduated from Cape May High School, where he played on the football team. It was there he met his wife of 67 years, Nancy L. Miller, also of Cape May.

Following high school, he attended Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pa., where he studied forestry. From there, he became an apprentice and then a river pilot for the Pilots’ Association for the Bay and River Delaware, a profession he loved and continued for 38 years until retirement in 1995.

He visited the Florida Keys during high school and he fell in love with that area, vowing he would one day have a home there. And that, he and Nancy did. They resided outside Rehoboth Beach, where they raised their two daughters and traveled back and forth to their home on Little Torch Key.

Andy loved being outdoors in nature and loved animals of all kinds, from raccoons to iguanas. He was always offering to care for any animal in need. Andy had numerous dogs throughout his lifetime, and he truly was their best friend. Andy helped make the world a happier and brighter place for man and animals as well. He also loved being on the water and was passionate about sailing. He had several sailboats, belonged to Delaware Cape Sailing Club, and made several trips from Florida to Delaware on the Intracoastal Waterway.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy  L. Miller; two daughters, Kim Knopp Mitchell and Pamela Knopp Skelding; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; his sister, Marianne Knopp; and seven nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at Cold Spring Presbyterian Church, 651 Seashore Road, Cape May, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Waterkeeper Alliance.