Barbara McDermott Last Lusitania Survivor

[Matt Endacott]

Hey,
i was just wondering if by any chance, any one knew what town or possibly even how i could contact Barbara McDermott, as i found out she is NOW the Lusitania's ONLY living survivor, Mrs Audrey Pearl passed away some time ago.
I am aware she lives in Connecticut ,but do not know her address. Can anyone out there help????
The address would be kept with care & i could appreciate if it could be sent to my e-mail: [email protected] as Mrs. mcDermott deserves her privacy.
Thank you very much!
Can anyone please help???

 

[Cliff Mark Barry]

Hya Matt,

as far as i'm aware Audrey Pearl is still living!!! I think Eric Sauder was going to visit her whilst over for the BTS IN Southampton in April this year

Cliff

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Matt- if you will click on TOPICS, then Lusitania, you will see several threads about Barbara McDermott. Audrey Pearl is alive the last I heard and there is another recently found Lusitania lady alive in England I think.

 

[Matt Endacott]

Shelley,
I'm sorry but there arn't enough threads on Barbara for me to write to her.
All i am aware of, is that she lives in Connecticut!
Could you please help me in finding her
Thank You very much,
Matt E.

 

[Eric Sauder]

Hi, Matt:

You wrote: "Mrs Audrey Pearl passed away some time ago."

I think Audrey would be surprised to hear that!

And, yes, Shelley, there is a very good lead on another Lusitania survivor who's still living.

Eric Sauder

 

[Matt Endacott]

Hey Eric,
My apologies, i read that Barbara McDermott was the only survivor in an article posted about the Lusitania, i should have known as most items on the net about Lucy are false.
I haven't yet seen a true site to her.
What country is Audrey living in?
England?
Regards,
Matt

 

[Eric Sauder]

Hi, Matt:

Yes, although born to American parents in the U.S., Audrey has lived her entire life in England.

Just a quick update about Audrey's health. I mentioned in another thread (now closed) that when Brian Meister and I visited her in April, she was having severe back pain. I received an e-mail from Audrey's daughter yesterday, and the back pains have improved 100% after some intensive treatment. As her daughter said: "she is on fantastic form."

Eric Sauder

 

[Brian Meister]

Everyone will be glad to know that I phoned
my friend Barbara McDermott and told her what
became of her benefactor, William H Harkness.
Before everyone goes rushing to the phone to
call her, she will receive the material, as
planned on her birthday next week and agrees
that nothing should spoil my planned birthday
gift to her. Thanks to everyone who encouraged
me to follow this through despite threat and
inunendo; the lady was very pleased to know
the details.
And yes, Eric and I had a fantastic time
lunching with Audrey Pearl this past April.
Fantastic to think that I might be the only
one who has actually met both of the remaining
survivors of the Lusitania. Thanks for the rare
opportunity Eric, she is a grand lady.

 

[Cliff Mark Barry]

Thats very good of you Mr Meister!!!! Barbara has certainly been waiting a long time for this information-for many years infact, and i'm sure she will enjoy your gift along with all the other wonderful presents and surprises she will recieve on her birthday.

regards

Cliff

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Brian,

I don't think anybody threatened you or made any innuendo. And it's a shame that you would point such insults to others who are friends with Barbara just because you have differences with them. Cliff Barry, Mike Poirier and Shelley Dziedzic have done a great deal to assist her, and she is indebted to them as much as to you and others. It's petty to make the remarks you did.

Cliff had every right, as someone close to Barbara, to ask about the Harkness information. He did it with grace and genuine concern. That info is something she has been curious about and something which you promised her. There was no need for the ragged tone of your post.

Randy

 

[Mark Baber]

Gentlemen---

I think that those of us who have no direct connection to Ms. McDermott have heard as much as we need to know about the history of the collection and dissemination of the Harkness information. In my only prior incursion into the Lusitania topic, I suggested that any further discussion of this particular issue be conducted in private; I'd like to repeat that suggestion now.

 

[Colleen Collier]

Eric & Brian. Just a quick note here regarding Audrey Pearl. I am almost envious of you getting to meet "baby Audrey." My favorite part in the National Geographic Lusitania special, is where she and Alice Lines are seen together, and (Paraphrasing here...) Alice starts in and introduces Audrey by saying, "Oh yes, this is my baby".... and turns to her, and playfully scolds, "You know, you really were a crybaby." Audrey just looks down and says, "yes, yes, you've told me." After all the times I have seen the video, I still find myself smiling broadly when I see or hear that part from another room.

Regarding Barbara McDermott. It is heartwarming that there is a survivor that will have some of the unknown questions in her life, answered. I know there were so many that never knew, and that is hard to accept. Therefore...Good job, and thank you for your part in her story.

 

[Brian Meister]

Thank you for your kind words, Colleen. I want
everyone to understand that it is my belief that
this information belonged in Barbara's hands
ever since I met her in 1999. My plan was to
surprise her for her birthday with the infor-
mation. It was also not my intention in my
brief post for anyone to see themselves as
being referred to when actually not. I apologize
for leaving anything open to specific interpre-
tation. I know that we all wish the lady a
Happy Birthday and many happy returns.

 

[Brian Meister]

Hello All,

I would like to take this opportunity to
publicly wish Barbara McDermott a happy and
healthy 91st birthday! I would have posted
this sooner but I just returned from a
"Walk for Life" cancer event at which I
managed to stay on the track for 13 hours
before caving in. I know you all join me
in wishing the lady many happy returns of
the day!

Kind Regards,

Brian

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

I'm very happy to join in bidding Happy Birthday to Barbara whom I hope has enjoyed her cards and gifts - including the information from Brian on her "savior" Harkness, which must have made her very happy, and a certain amazing photo of her with Harkness from Cliff, which she must be ecstatic over as well. She deserves our best wishes today - and every day. Thanks to Brian for giving a public shout out to Barbara for her special day.