A Nieuw Amsterdam Captain 'Sails Away'

[woodofpine]

A friend's 'father' passed last week; the memorial service for the 95+ year old brought his family and others together for reminescences (art and ship portraits).

 

The deceased had been Captain of the SS Nieuw Amsterdam in the late '50's; he met his American wife onboard as a passenger (second marriage for both). The captain came visiting during layovers in NYC (when my friend was about 5 yo). "For breakfast!", friend recollected grinning, "Mom made a fantastic breakfast! I know because the Captain always arrived in uniform well before we awoke and got up!" ;) They married and the kids would briefly have run of the opulent Nieuw Amsterdam while it was in NYC. The Captain sounded like an amazing guy. Merchant seaman, **** resister, captured, escaped a death train to the east, hid in churchs for the remainder of WWII, and a painter art restoration expert that retired from HAL around 1960, kept a gallery on Park Avenue for 20+ years, then to Charlotte Harbor (saltwater in his blood) - now to even better harbors. The Greatest Generation sails away...

[Topsham]

A friend's 'father' passed last week; the memorial service for the 95+ year old brought his family and others together for reminescences (art and ship portraits).

 

The deceased had been Captain of the SS Nieuw Amsterdam in the late '50's; he met his American wife onboard as a passenger (second marriage for both). The captain came visiting during layovers in NYC (when my friend was about 5 yo). "For breakfast!", friend recollected grinning, "Mom made a fantastic breakfast! I know because the Captain always arrived in uniform well before we awoke and got up!" ;) They married and the kids would briefly have run of the opulent Nieuw Amsterdam while it was in NYC. The Captain sounded like an amazing guy. Merchant seaman, **** resister, captured, escaped a death train to the east, hid in churchs for the remainder of WWII, and a painter art restoration expert that retired from HAL around 1960, kept a gallery on Park Avenue for 20+ years, then to Charlotte Harbor (saltwater in his blood) - now to even better harbors. The Greatest Generation sails away...

 

 

If he was Captain of the old NIEUW AMSTERDAM then he knew what heaven was going to be like!

 

Please let us know his name and sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

 

Stephen

[sail7seas]

What is his name?

Hopefully he has many HAL friends who still recall sailing with him.

 

Condolences to his family and friends.

[Krazy Kruizers]

95 -- wonderful

Condolences to his family.

Ceetainly you will let us know the name of this captain.