Friends of the Andrea Doria Newsletter
www.andreadoria.org

Vol. 1 Issue 8 Thursday, July 25, 2002

Dear Friends and survivors,
Today marks the 46th anniversary of the collision between the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm and I would like you to pause for a moment to remember those who perished on both ships. 

MEMORIAL WREATH:

Thanks to your help the Memorial Wreath was a success. The "Strawberry Fields" florist located in Montauk NY created the Memorial Wreath and delivered it to the ship "Seeker" that was docked in Montauk preparing for the trip out to the Andrea Doria. Captain Dan Crowell was scheduled to make three trips out to the Andrea Doria and we decided that he would bring the wreath out on his first trip on July 12th. Weather is a large factor in going out to the Andrea Doria and if he was not able to go out on the 12th he would try again on July 17th. Although it was early for the anniversary it was a good decision, his last trip on July 23rd was cancelled due to the weather. 

The weather on July 12th was ideal and the sea was rather calm as the "Seeker" left port at 11:00pm on July 11th for the 10-12 hour trip to the Andrea Doria. The wreath was placed in the ocean and anchored to the Andrea Doria with a length of line so the current would not carry it away. The wreath lasted for several hours until the sea and birds dismantled it. One of the divers read a short memorial containing the names of all that were lost and Captain Dan videotaped the event. During the coming months he will edit the tape and send along a few pictures for the web site.

This is the memorial that was read:

46 years ago this month two ocean liners met at the same point in space and time and changed the lives of many. The collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm was hailed as a great sea rescue and indeed it was, however we are here on behalf of the survivors and friends to remember the passengers and crew that lost their lives.
 
From the Andrea Doria:
Baratta, Agnese
Baratta, Margherita Pontecorvi
Bremmerman, Laura
Carlin, Jeanette
Carola, Margaret
Cianfarra, Camille
Cianfarra, Joan
Cirincione, Giuseppe
Cirincione, Rosalia
Covino, Christina
De Grandi Jr., Giuseppe
De Grandi, Lucia
Del Gaudio, Teresa Maria
Di Luzio, Maria
Di Michele, Concetta
Di Sandro, Norma
Diana, Angelina
Diana, Biaggio
Diana, Victoria
Ferraro, Josephina
Gonzales, Angelina
Grechi, Maria
Guzzi, Antonietta
Guzzi, Giuseppe
Iazzetta, Amelia
Imbelloni, Maria Theresina
Leoni, Anita Arrigoni
Palmeri, Domenico
Palmeri, Francesca Maria
Peterson, Martha
Russo, Giovanna
Russo, Maria
Russo, Michele
Russo, Vincenza
Sergio, Anna Maria
Sergio, Domenica
Sergio, Giuseppe
Sergio, Maria Concetta
Sergio, Rocco
Suozzi, Michelina
Thieriot Ferdinand
Thieriot Frances
Watres, Carl
Zumbo, Rosa
Zumbo, Vincenzo
From the Stockholm:
Johannson, Alf
Jonasson, Carl
Osterberg, Karl
Steen, Sune
Svensson, Evert
Anderson, Paul
 
We place this wreath to remember those who never finished their journey. We Will Keep Your Memory Alive.
 
The survivors and friends of the Andrea Doria.
 

Many thanks to the following for donating to the Memorial Wreath:

Anna Conti Greene-Survivor
Luciano Fiume-His father, Salvatore, created some of the paintings that were displayed on the Andrea Doria
Raffaele Minotauro-His father Gaetano was a crew member on the Andrea Doria
Carmina Ruggiero Iuso-Survivor
Joseph Galante-Friend of the Andrea Doria
Pat Carboni-Survivor
Andrew Calvano-Born on the Andrea Doria in March of 1954
Mr & Mrs. Carl DiPilato-Brother of survivor Angela Grillo
Angela and Anthony Grillo-Survivors
Pierette Domenica Simpson-Survivor

SURVIVORS:

Ada Di Fabio was 16yrs old and left Naples by herself on her way to the US. She lives in the US and her daughter has contacted me with her address. I am always happy to find another survivor!

MAIL BAG:

Dear Mr. Grillo,
It was a pleasure to find your Andrea Doria website. Our friend and neighbor, Miss Josephine Galasso, was aboard ship that fateful night. She'd collected a sample of Italian coins and stamps for me, an eight year old in Woodside, Queens, New York. To our great happiness, she herself survived, but to my childish disappointment, the little collection of coins and stamps went to the bottom of the Atlantic.
I remember Josephine telling my mother of her night of horror but I was too young to fully understand or to remember.
Best regards,
Alan Tullio
Inwood, New York

Hello Anthony,
In yesterday's newsletter you mentioned captain Don Crowell's intention of diving out to the Andrea Doria three times in July. Now, as you may remember from a previous e-mail of mine, the Salone di Prima Classe in it contained a huge painting (146x9ft) by my late father Salvatore Fiume. For my sister Laura and for myself that painting is like a family
relative lost in the collision. So, you will understand how important it would be for us to hear news of its present state of preservation (or destruction). Is there a way for me to get in contact with captain Crowell (you might be so kind as to forward this message to him) in order to ask him what kind of exploration he is going to make and if there are any chances
that pictures of the painting may be taken during his dives?
Thank you very much in advance and best wishes.
Luciano

It is unfortunate, but the Andrea Doria is collapsing into an unrecognizable rubble pile and would make it virtually impossible to locate the painting. Though even if the grand dame were still intact, the painting would have long ago deteriorated. Only the art work made of plaster and clay (of which several have been recovered) would have a chance to survive, along with china and the ship's fittings. I will keep an eye out for it will exploring the wreck this season and well be happy to report any evidence if I run across it.
Best wishes,
Captain Dan Crowell

I can give you my thoughts on this since I have been in this room many times and have looked for this beautiful
picture--one of my personal favorites, by the way. I spent a good bit of time looking for it from 1991-1994; however, I had not been able to find it. Perhaps it was found after 1994 but personally I doubt it. I found other artifacts in this area, including band equipment in the hallway between first class lounge and first class ballroom, fine Ginori oriental-pattern china, silverware and ashtrays. As you know the statue of Admiral Doria was in First Class lounge and the lounge was torn up pretty good when Glen Garvin retrieved the statue in 1964. I think that they may have disturbed it during their dynamiting of the wall to gain access to the lounge. I hope that this news doesn't damper the spirits of Mr. Fiume-because it may still be down there, preserved under mounds of debris. I certainly wish that that is the case.
Please convey to Mr. Fiume my regards and tell him that I thought that his father's picture was the most beautiful on the ship and that was why I had taken a personal interest in finding it. As you know, it would of been shared back with other people for their enjoyment.
Regards,
David Bright

 

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