Bruce B Chin
Member
Thank you all for your kind comments on the late Barbara McDermott, whose passing I only learned of three weeks after it occurred on 12 April. Shelley, I have to thank you for your kindness in sharing a bit more of her story, particularly regarding the spoon, which I wasn't sure whether I had acquired via eBay. I understand the odds were quite slim, as a number of these still exist, but not many.
Personally, I never had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting this dynamic lady who I've only heard wonderful things about. However, I did have the pleasure of exchanging correspondence, of sorts, with her over the last year.
I've been a fan of maritime history ever since I was a child, eventually sketching the lovely ocean liners of a bygone age, including Lusitania. I obtained an address for Mrs. McDermott that I thought I would try with the intent of writing her and perhaps getting a touch of history that I'm always grateful for. I ultimately drew two pencil sketches of Lusitania sailing along in happier times (as I'd never dare depict the sinking for a survivor) and posted these to her, along with a lovely lithograph I requested her to sign. I wrote a warm letter commending, not just her survival, but how she overcame such loss of her mother and brother to build a great family.
I was pleasantly surprised and delighted when I received one pencil sketch back and the lithograph, both signed in large writing, along with an enclosed letter. Her great-grandson took the liberty to write me back and to thank me for the pencil sketch I gave to her as a gift. He indicated that Barbara's eyesight was failing at the time, but despite this, she still wanted to sign the sketch and lithograph, hence the large writing. I was so touched by this and was also warmed by his indication that my sketches were very much in line with the numerous photos he'd seen of the ship growing up. I had asked how I might express appreciation in my letter to Barbara and indicated that I was a US ex-pat living in England. Her great-grandson responded by saying she loved English tea. As a mark of immese gratitude, I posted a thank you card and a tin of tea from Harrod's, addressed to both Barbara and her great-grandson. I hope they received this and the Christmas card I posted as well.
Again, thank you for all your work in preserving the memory, not only of this great ship, but most importantly the stories of those who experienced it firsthand. Indeed, I'm not only saddened to learn of Barbara McDermott's passing, but also mournful that we've lost the last living memory of the disaster that has now passed into the realm of archival history. Let us be thankful for what she has given and remember her for her great gifts as a person.
Personally, I never had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting this dynamic lady who I've only heard wonderful things about. However, I did have the pleasure of exchanging correspondence, of sorts, with her over the last year.
I've been a fan of maritime history ever since I was a child, eventually sketching the lovely ocean liners of a bygone age, including Lusitania. I obtained an address for Mrs. McDermott that I thought I would try with the intent of writing her and perhaps getting a touch of history that I'm always grateful for. I ultimately drew two pencil sketches of Lusitania sailing along in happier times (as I'd never dare depict the sinking for a survivor) and posted these to her, along with a lovely lithograph I requested her to sign. I wrote a warm letter commending, not just her survival, but how she overcame such loss of her mother and brother to build a great family.
I was pleasantly surprised and delighted when I received one pencil sketch back and the lithograph, both signed in large writing, along with an enclosed letter. Her great-grandson took the liberty to write me back and to thank me for the pencil sketch I gave to her as a gift. He indicated that Barbara's eyesight was failing at the time, but despite this, she still wanted to sign the sketch and lithograph, hence the large writing. I was so touched by this and was also warmed by his indication that my sketches were very much in line with the numerous photos he'd seen of the ship growing up. I had asked how I might express appreciation in my letter to Barbara and indicated that I was a US ex-pat living in England. Her great-grandson responded by saying she loved English tea. As a mark of immese gratitude, I posted a thank you card and a tin of tea from Harrod's, addressed to both Barbara and her great-grandson. I hope they received this and the Christmas card I posted as well.
Again, thank you for all your work in preserving the memory, not only of this great ship, but most importantly the stories of those who experienced it firsthand. Indeed, I'm not only saddened to learn of Barbara McDermott's passing, but also mournful that we've lost the last living memory of the disaster that has now passed into the realm of archival history. Let us be thankful for what she has given and remember her for her great gifts as a person.
