Dear Colin and Billy: We have never met, but your Dad and I served together on the Southward in California. I was the Systems Manager. He was a great friend and I was very sorry to learn of his passing. There are so many fond memories I have of our times together. I especially remember the Captain’s Reception on every cruise. The band would begin playing “Anchors Aweigh” and your Dad would walk down the to the front of the theater and start off each one the same way. He would introduce himself and then say, rather sheepishly: “As you can probably tell, I’m not from around here. I’m from North Carolina!” It was at this point that he had each passenger in the palm of his hand and they willingly stayed there throughout the cruise! I never heard ANY passenger say anything negative about him. The last time I saw your Dad we were both at Miami Heart Hospital. I had gone in there to have some tests after having a bad reaction to my chemotherapy treatments and found out that your Dad was there. I went to his room and surprised him. We visited for about ½ hour when I had to return to my ship, the Leeward. I lost contact with him and when I finally found out where he was (I believe it was the Jade) he had just left on vacation. Then I got busy closing down the Leeward and then going to the Norway and finally the Dream for my final contract. I left NCL in March 2000, just 2 months shy of 8 years. My time on the Southward were my best contracts. I was fortunate enough to be on the ship when it was sold to Sun Cruises and became the Seawing and sailed the Mediterranean. It may have been the same ship, but her personality changed and was nothing like the Southward! Please accept my sincere condolences. I shall remember you and your Dad in my prayers.