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My
interest with ships began in 1968, when I
was just seven. It was then that I found a
book entitled "The Sinking of the Titanic"
in my Grandfather's large collection of
books. I was captivated by the image of
the distressed ship on the cover, and
asked my Grandfather about the ship. He
told a great story that would have a
profound effect on my life.
My
Grandfather was always one for detail, and
covered everything about the ship, from
the people to the technical aspects. He
pointed to objects distant and to fixed
vertical points on a local landmark to
provide visual references to the size of
the ship and her enormous engines. I was
awestruck by the story and my grandfather
gave me the book which is a part of the
White Star Line Memorial Foundation
collection.
In my
early teen years and early adult life, I
made contacts with fellow enthusiasts and
would write to share ideas and information
about the White Star Line and the various
ships. It was at this time that I acquired
my first authentic White Star Line item; a
uniform button. I enjoyed making new
contacts and attempted to join a society
in the mid 1970's, and on two later
occasions, but they never could seem to
process my application. I am pleased they
didn't as I have found it best to study a
subject on your own.
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I spent as much
time as possible in the early 1980's traveling to
all the areas in my home state that had any
connection to the ship. It was a grand time and I
made many new and surprising discoveries, but it
was not to last. An auto accident in 1986
effectively brought everything to a halt and my
life to near ruin. I was left financially destitute
and my first wife left and took our son. In the end
I had to return to my childhood home for brief time
and it took several years before I was well enough
to become active to any productive degree. It was
round this period I sought to make new, and
reestablish old, contacts in order to pass my free
time.
After recovering
from my injuries to a degree sufficient to allow me
to be effectively active, and having few options
for employment, I enrolled at Purdue University
seeking a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical
Engineering, but one year shy of my graduation I
decided that engineering wasn't what I wanted to
do. I then enrolled as a student in computer
graphics and web design which I
completed.
Finding no
companies that would hire me, I started a web
design and graphics company. I soon found the
market flooded and while I managed to establish a
small client base the endeavor was largely a waste
of time, falling short of what I expected and hoped
for. The URL was of great interest to a company in
South Africa and I sold it to them for a tidy sum
after deciding to end my business
venture.
Continuing in
making contacts with others about the White Star
Line Ships, I decided to make contact, via the
Internet, with individuals in Belfast, North
Ireland. In a purely random Internet search my
first contact was John Cooper. I asked John if he
would permit me to inquire about Harland &
Wolff and I was told his house was adjacent to the
shipyard where most of the White Star Line ships
were built. John had much information to share
about the "Yard" and the ships that had been built
there.
After a few
years of talking and sharing life stories, John
told me of Sorina, a friend of his in Romania. He
said she was a very outstanding lady and had a
Masters Degree in Engineering and he thought I
should contact her. I knew what John had in mind
and I was more than hesitant to make contact as my
history with relationships was poor at best. I
finally gave in to John's insistence after some
months and contacted Sorina. We had great
conversation right off, but I made it clear I was
interested in nothing but friendship. We contacted
one another almost daily for a couple of years,
either online or via the telephone, and I was
invited to Romania to see the country. I spent four
fantastic weeks traveling the beautiful country
with Sorina and near the end of the trip I proposed
and she accepted. I returned to Romania a few
months later to bring Sorina stateside, but before
returning we spent another four weeks traveling the
country. Soon after arriving in Indiana we married
and I have now shared seven wonderful years with
Sorina.
In 1998, we
became aware that there were many in unfortunate
circumstances who could not see the 1997 movie.
Sorina suggested that I use the collection to
provide free displays to the less fortunate by
creating a traveling memorial to the ships and
those connected with them. We chose the name "The
White Star Line Memorial Foundation" as the basis
of the planned effort. After Sorina arrived in
Indiana, we increased the scope of our endeavor and
greatly increased the collection.
We traveled
throughout the Midwest providing free displays of
our collection and it was a project that richly
blessed us, and those for whom the displays were
given. It was a genuine pleasure to take the real
story of the Titanic, and the White Star Line to
others. While we were providing displays in the
States, we were approached by a charity and asked
if we provided the collection to fund raising
events. We had not, but were thrilled at the
prospect of helping others on a new and different
level. From there this new aspect of the WSLMF
quickly grew by word of mouth and we were receiving
requests regularly.
In 2007, we
decided to move to Romania. We both love to travel
and it is easier to reach those areas we want to
visit in our travels from here. We also decided to
establish the WSLMF in Europe as there are greater
opportunities here than in the U.S.
The collection
continues to grow, and the focus remains on the
rarest and most unusual items.
I hope you enjoy
the web site, and I appreciate your stopping by to
have a look around.
Michael
I will be
adding some photo's of us around Romania, and
photo's of our travels abroad as time
permits.
In the mean
time, if you are interested in seeing the charm and
beauty of Romania, these links are
among the best:
Discover
Romania
and Romanian
Voice.
You can see a
map of places I have been, and see some of my
interests here.
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