Archive for ASNE
Another partial standing ovation followed. James Cameron and Bill Garzke returned to our table. People followed them, hoping for a quick chat or to give praise. I offered Cameron my compliments for his interesting talk:
“I never thought I could be so fascinated by a sunken battleship story. It was a great presentation.”
I know how valuable it is to receive feedback after my speaking engagements on the Andrea Doria. Cameron seemed to relish in everyone’s positive comments as if he had heard these words for the first time. It was another way to share the message that he appreciated our interest in his work. People continued to flock at his side. I took this opportunity to chat with a couple of distinguished marine engineers. One had been to the Andrea Doria ‘gravesite’ on July 26, 1956. He explained almost apologetically that with other Coast Guard cadets, he was ordered to shoot holes into the lifeboats that were still afloat. “We used them for target practice,” he quipped. “They were considered a danger to navigation.”
I peeked over to what had become an autograph session. A gentleman saw that I was anxious to offer my book to the famous film maker. He gave me his place in line and I actually dared to take a seat facing James Cameron. I handed him my book, Alive on the Andrea Doria! The Greatest Sea Rescue in History.[1] Inside I had written a lengthy dedication. Cameron looked at the cover with great interest as I told him that I would love the opportunity to see this shipwreck on the seafloor for myself; that it would allow me the chance to make peace with the cadaver that was once a luxury liner.
“Do you think Elwood would like to explore the Andrea Doria?” I boldly asked.
Cameron, the explorer-humanitarian understood my need, having offered this kind of therapy to the Bismarck survivors.
“Since the wreck is only at 250 feet, I think it’s feasible. I would let you navigate him from the surface…but I need to know that there is scientific value for using this approach, as opposed to what is already being done.”
I heartily assured him that I would do my research on that.
The evening offered precious moments in my life as a shipwreck survivor and author. Moreover, speaking to James Cameron felt like I had climbed a mountain top, even though we were discussing the bottom of the planet.
Speaking of planets, Cameron is a member of the NASA Advisory Council and is working on the project to get cameras on the pending manned Mars mission. I hope the marine world doesn’t lose one of its most ardent researchers to another part of the universe.
N.B. Bill Garzke told with me later that Cameron shared his delight for receiving an honorary induction into ASNE. As the two men descended the stage, the outstanding film maker beamed,
“My Dad will be very proud of me.”
Cameron’s father is an engineer.
(Conclusion of article)
[1] For information on the book, see
www.PieretteSimpson.com.
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | andrea doria, ASNE, Avatar, Bismarck, James Cameron, shipwreck survivor, shipwrecks, Titanic|3 Comments
My friend Giuliano called me shortly after 9 p.m. on 2-3-10 to inform me that “my friend” James Cameron was appearing on the Larry King show. I told Giuliano that I was on a Teleseminar; but after two seconds of reflection, I said “Thanks. I gotta watch it!” realizing that my current priority was to reconnect with one of the world’s greatest geniuses.
I sat mesmerized in front of the TV as I watched Cameron, two of his major technical assistants, and some actors being interviewed about their role in “AVATAR”. Watching Jim speak reminded me of the evening I met him in Washington, DC a year and a half ago. It will always be one of the most exciting and memorable events of my life: “The James Cameron Event” explained in the article below. In fact, I tell my friends that the opportunity to meet the man, felt like I had reached the top of Mount Everest.
This is the first part of the article. I will blog two more times to share its entirety.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
An Evening with James Cameron
Washington D.C., June 24, 2008
Thank God I didn’t have to re-live another shipwreck, like the Andrea Doria, to feel a close connection with the 1997 movie, Titanic. As a guest at the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) dinner, Titanic’s Academy Award winning director sat one seat away from me. James Cameron was about to present his talk, ‘Undersea Exploration of the DKM Bismarck.’
I was introduced to the tall, stately looking gentleman by my friend William Garzke[1], one of Cameron’s chief consultants for his presentation on the Bismarck.
“This is Pierette Simpson. She is a survivor of the Andrea Doria and has recently written an excellent book on the loss of this ship.”[2]
The silver-haired gentleman extended his hand to me and graciously exclaimed, “You must have been very young.”
I clumsily replied, “Probably not as young as you many think…but thank you for the compliment.” Shaking hands, I immediately I felt a warm connection to the film giant.
Bill Garzke continued to explain: “I reviewed Pierette’s book for the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. We also collaborated on a report called ‘The Loss of the Andrea Doria’, which we presented in New York last week.”[3]
I felt great pride being accepted by these legendary shipwreck experts. Immodestly, I added that Bill was my mentor and in collaboration we had become authorities on the Andrea Doria tragedy. Then, quickly, before someone else could intervene on what seemed to be a magical moment, I introduced Cameron to my companion, Richard Haskin. I was impressed that the special guest walked over to Richard to shake his hand; he could have more efficiently extended his hand across a few people. Immediately, Cameron became the consummate gentleman and scholar in my mind. These precious moments set the tone to what would turn out to be a night to remember.
My friend Bill had helped to organize the evening’s event for the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE). Little did I know that Richard and I would sit at the ‘Reserved’ table, front and center, with Cameron and his three main consultants for the Bismarck presentation. After meeting all the distinguished scientists, I had a feeling that maybe I shouldn’t be drinking wine, for fear of losing coherence. I took a small sip anyway, hoping to put me more at ease.
[1] William Garzke is the national chairman of the marine forensics panel SD-7 of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
[2] For a copy of the review, see www.pierettesimpson.com: “The Book”.
[3] For a copy of the report, contact Pierette@PieretteSimpson.com .
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories, Uncategorized | andrea doria, ASNE, Avatar, Bismark, James Cameron, shipwreck survivors, shipwrecks, The Larry King Show, Titanic, William Garzke|3 Comments
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” –Winston Churchill
What better time to reflect upon the strategy and results than at the beginning of a new year? Every author hopes that their never-ending pursuit of success will net a bestseller. That didn’t happen. Of course, it didn’t help that my book was not in the bookstores for over six months—and is still working its way into outlets nationwide. This is normal protocol when changing publishers. Nevertheless, I still rejoice 2008 as a successful year. (Obviously I’m not referring to my financial portfolio!)
I’m referring to the enriching experiences that money cannot buy:
· Receiving an award from the New England Book Festival for Alive the Andrea Doria. The award is for general excellence and passionately telling a story, as well as for the book’s potential to be read by wide audiences.
· Doing a presentation at the elite venue, The Explorers Club of New York.
( www.explorers.org) it was a thrill to be considered an authority on my topic, along with world-renowned marine scientists. I was also in the company of nine divers of the Andrea Doria!
· Speaking for many warm and welcoming groups, locally and nationally
· Writing and presenting a technical report called “The Loss of the Andrea Doria” with my friend and naval architect, Bill Garzke. This was one of the most challenging writing feats. I felt rewarded when I discovered that it was the first technical report written by a shipwreck survivor in collaboration with a marine scientist. Bill and I presented this report for the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (www.sname.org) in New York and at the University of Michigan.
· Meeting and dining with James Cameron, director of the film Titanic. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000116/ At the same table were Cameron’s main shipwreck consultants, including Bill Garzke. The James Cameron event on the Bismarck, was held by the American Society of Naval Engineers in DC. (www.asne.org) I dedicated a copy of my book, Alive on the Andrea Doria to the film giant and had a long chat with him.
· Receiving the “Collegian Award” from my alma mater, Wayne State University. The award recognizes my Italian book, L’Ultima Notte dell’Andrea Doria, as a contribution to the community in my field of study, foreign languages.
· Transferring publishing rights from a small to a large New York publishing house, Morgan James Publishing (www.Morganjamespublishing.com)
· Publishing my short story, Thank God for a Catastrophe: Surviving the Andrea Doria Shipwreck. (www.thankGodI.com) the story is published in book 1 of the Thank God I inspirational book series launched this fall. Its focus is on gratitude for ALL of our experiences. The book was an Amazon.com bestseller in December.
· Welcoming to my home, a southern gentleman named Jimmy Walker. He was one of the Andrea Doria rescuers at age 23, while serving as a US merchant Marine officer.
· Selling world film rights of my Italian book to a Roman film producer. (An author can’t get much luckier than this!)
As you can see, my 2008 strategies have gleaned the titles “award-winning book” and “award-winning author”. Not bad results for a first-timer. I am very grateful and humbled.
Nonetheless, I have a long ways to go before I sleep. I have only skimmed the surface of how I will continue to serve the seas—the goal for my blog and for everything I do professionally. This will be the essence of my strategy for 2009. But who knows what the results will be!
www.pierettesimpson.com
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/5/78/77a
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | ASNE, Explorers Club, James Cameron, Museo dell'Emigrazione, Museum of Immigration, Frossasco, Torino, Piemontesi Protagonisti, SNAME, thank God I|No Comments
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