For Thanksgiving

The following excerpt is the ending to my short story in the Thank God I…book series. It expresses my gratitude for what I’ve learned from being part of the most calamitous collision at sea AND the greatest sea rescue in … Continue reading

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Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald

On November 10, 1975, 29 men found a final resting place in the icy grave called Lake Superior; they had been navigating and working on the Edmund Fitzgerald. This video is a beautiful tribute to the life of a viable freighter and the men … Continue reading

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The Passing of a Special Professor

I am sad to learn about the passing of one of my rescuers on the Atlantic ocean, July 26, 1956. As I struggled to enter a small window at the top of the French liner, Ile de France, Leonor McAlpine … Continue reading

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Feedback Regarding My WGN Television Interview

Wow! I didn’t expect to get such a great review from an expert media person whose career involves media training.  Thank you,   Shawne Duperon! ************************************************** Author Pierette Simpson Lands a Coup on WGN Atlanta ************************************************** Author Pierette Simpson recently … Continue reading

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Feedback from the SNAME* Annual Conference

Dear Pierette: The Marine Forensic Committee that I chair opened the Technical and Research Session of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers at its national meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. Our one-hour part of the program as certainly … Continue reading

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Thrilling Dives to the Andrea Doria in 2009

Deep sea diver, Tom Packer called me recently. I had written e-mails nudging him to share with me the details of his summer dives to the Grande Dame of the Sea. As usual, Tom was as excited as a teenager … Continue reading

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"The Decay of the Andrea Doria" to be Presented at SNAME Annual Conference

On October 22, my friends John Moyer and Steve Gatto are heading to the SNAME (society of naval architects and marine engineers) conference in Rhode Island. Their friend, naval architect Phil Simms, will be presenting a scientific paper co-authored by Moyer, Gatto, and Simms … Continue reading

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My Interview on WGN TV

I sought this interview on national TV to officially release my new audio book, Alive in the Andrea Doria. After a few months of e-mail correspondence with WGN producer Tom Barnas of The Midday News, the day finally arrived: Columbus Day*, October … Continue reading

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My Friend’s Return on the Queen Mary II

My friend and naval architect extraordinaire, Bill Garzke, called me to report on his trip to London in September. “It was even better than I expected,” were his first words about the voyage. “Good cuisine, smooth sailing, and I got … Continue reading

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The Last Mysteries of the Titanic*

 With the technological savoir-faire that only a genius mind could offer, Academy Award winner James Cameron explored the innermost spaces of the Titanic shipwreck. The famous director of the movie by the same name led a film team of underwater … Continue reading

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