Yesterday a fellow Alum of SUNY Maritime College, Joe "Jeff" Hazelwood passed away, a victim of cancer. He has 75. He lived the last 33 years in ignominy. All y'all will probably still regard him as a walking, talking, drunken disaster. Truth is he was far from that. If you have a mind to read this https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/water-activities/captain-went-down-ship/ (https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/water-activities/captain-went-down-ship/).
I knew him a little, before the grounding, as an intelligent, capable, savvy seaman. One that most of us would fail miserably trying to emulate. I mourn him as one would an acquaintance, wishing I could have known him better.
So Jeff, "let me square the yards, while we may, old man, and make a fair wind of it homeward"!
TG
Thanks for the article, Tim. That was a very interesting read. I always assumed he was a drunk and steered his ship into disaster. But it turns out there's a helluva lot more to the story and to the man. I learned a lot. Thank you again.