PERSONAL INFORMATION AND PHOTOS OF THE CAPTIAN AND COOK AS WELL AS OTHER CREW MEMBERS.
One of the best and most powerful songs ever written by Lightfoot was the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The people mentioned in the song are NOT given a name. Below is the name of the Captain and the COOK of the Mighty Fitzgerald and what I could find out about then. Its not evey detailed but maybe it will feel a little more personable when you here the song next time knowing their names. (Below the Capt and Cook I also listed the rest of the men) Didnt find much about the cook and captain but some of the other members people, i posted a link with bio and photos. Read what one crew member said about Mcsorley.
Ernest M. McSorley
63 (Age)
Captain
Toledo, Ohio
Allen G. Kalmon
43 (age)
Washburn, Wisconsin
Cook
THE REST OF THE CREW:
Michael E. Armagost
37
Third Mate
Iron River, Wisconsin
Fred J. Beetcher
56
Porter
Superior, Wisconsin
Thomas D. Bentsen
23
Oiler
St. Joseph, Michigan
Edward F. Bindon
47
First Asst. Engineer
Fairport Harbor, Ohio
Thomas D. Borgeson
41
Maintenance Man
Duluth, Minnesota
Oliver J. Champeau
41
Third Asst. Engineer
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Nolan S. Church
55
Porter
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Ransom E. Cundy (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/rrcundy.html ) CLICK HERE TO READ CUNDY'S SHORT BIO AND PHOTOS ITS REALLY NICE TO GET TO KNOW THESE FINE MEN.
53
Watchman
Superior, Wisconsin
Thomas E. Edwards
50
Second Asst. Engineer
Oregon, Ohio
Russell G. Haskell
40
Second Asst. Engineer
Millbury, Ohio
George J. Holl
60
Chief Engineer
Cabot, Pennsylvania
Bruce L. Hudson
22
Deck Hand
North Olmsted, Ohio
Gordon F. MacLellan (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/gmaclellan.html )
CLICK TO READ MACLELLANS BIO WITH PHOTOS.
30
Wiper
Clearwater, Florida
Joseph W. Mazes (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/jmazes.html ) MAZES PHOTO AND PROFILE HERE: An intersting note is Mazes siblings said that he had once said that the captain would never pull out of a storm and would put the boat in conditions no others would.
59
Special Maintenance Man
Ashland, Wisconsin
John H. McCarthy
62
First Mate
Bay Village, Ohio
Eugene W. O'Brien (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/eobrien.html ) CLICK TO SEE PHOTO OF O'BRIEN AND BIO
50
Wheelsman
Toledo, Ohio
Karl A. Peckol
20
Watchman
Ashtabula, Ohio
John J. Poviach
59
Wheelsman
Bradenton, Florida
James A. Pratt
44
Second Mate
Lakewood, Ohio
Robert C. Rafferty (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/rrafferty.html ) CLICK FOR PHOTO AND BIO. This was going to be Raffertys LAST trip as he was thinking of retiring. IN fact he was not suppose to be on the Fitgerald. Read more by click and discover too that there WAS a crew member still alive after the wreck!
62
Steward
Toledo, Ohio
Paul M. Riippa
22
Deck Hand
Ashtabula, Ohio
John D. Simmons (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/jsimmons.html ) CLICK FOR BIO AND PHOTO . THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE HIS LAST TRIP AND GOING TO RETIRE WHEN HE GOT HOME!
63
Wheelsman
Ashland, Wisconsin
William J. Spengler
59
Watchman
Toledo, Ohio
Mark A. Thomas
21
Deck Hand
Richmond Heights, Ohio
Ralph G. Walton (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/rwalton.html ) click for photo and bio.
58
Oiler
Fremont, Ohio
David E. Weiss
22
Cadet
Agoura, California
Blaine H. Wilhelmn (
http://www.ssefo.com/crew/profiles/bwilhelm.html ) Click for bio.
52
Oiler
Moquah, Wisconsin
INTERESTING LINK HERE ABOUT WHAT THE WIVES, SONS AND DAUTHERS SAID ABOUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBER AFTER THE SINKING. (
http://www.ssefo.com/families/index.html