Harold Guckes Jr. started out as a car salesman at Van Wyk Oldsmobile in Media in 1953, and ended up owning the place, writes Rita Giordano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The man who took carpe diem to heart died June 4. He was 94.

“Each day was an adventure,” said daughter Wendy Brown. ‘Do the best you can each day.’ His dad died at 59. Obviously, he lived a little longer at 94, so I think his outlook worked.”

Gukes was both a successful car dealership owner and a sailor.

He was born in West Philadelphia, raised in Bala Cynwyd and graduated Lower Merion High School in 1944.

He joined the Navy in communications intelligence from 1944 to 1946, tracking German submarines primarily in Recife, Brazil.

 He earned a business degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and spent 37 years in the auto business.

This self-taught man grabbed opportunities when he saw them.

 “He didn’t take music lessons; he just learned by ear. He didn’t take sailing lessons; he just learned to sail on his own.”

Sailing was a great passion and he enjoyed racing on  the Chesapeake Bay.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about the life of Harold Guckes Jr.