Captain Joe Hazelwood of the Exxon Valdez Passes over the Bar

[Tim Gardner]

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/.

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

[Mountain Sailor]

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.