The End of an Era
I've been reading up on the passing of David Carradine. It's a sad end to a great actor. He really made Kill Bill great in his portrayal, among other roles. I'm sort of on the fence on which is the sadder end, the supposed suicide being reported (unlikely, but I've read of people doing it even with a lot of projects on the table)or Tom's theory of AEA. Still, Rest in Peace, Kung Fu legend.
Though as sad as his passing is, that's not what this post is actually about. Just giving tribute allowed by how I learned of the news. Looking up Carradine on Wikipedia, I stumbled to my usual listing of recent deaths. I was greatly saddened to read to the passing on May 31st of Millvena Dean. I'm sure none of you have heard of her, and I can't blame you, as it's only a name recognizable to those of the interest she pertains to.
Miss Dean was the last living survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. With her gone, there are no longer any people who had walked her decks. Though it should be of note that she was only a few weeks old at the time, her youngest passenger. As such, she retained no memory of the ship. That final honor belonged to American Lillian Apslund, who was five at the time, never liked discussing it or attending events and passed as the third to last survivor on May 6, 2006. That was the date the Titanic sailed out of living memory. Still it's truly a sad occasion.
It's sort of heartbreaking as an enthusiast of the ship to know that no one directly connected to her still lives. Naturally, I regret never getting a chance to meet any of them, nor did I expect to, with most of them in England or reclusive. Millvena seemed like she would've been a fun person to talk to. While Dean had no memories of the ship (nor did she want them) she was rather active in the community, and had no problems being a sort of kitsch celebrity. A trait very unlike some of the other last survivors. The BBC article linked to below has a video suggesting a very cheery woman indeed. She'd often joke about how she wasn't meant to be an American since the ship sank. She was definitely a colorful character until the end. She was also against salvaging, a position I also strongly support. She found visiting the wreck morbid.
She suffered financial problems late in life and made news selling Titanic items (some of which returned to her by winners), and even had friends set up a fund in which Decaprio, Winslet, Cameron and Dion all donated to. Mildly ironic as she refused to watch the movie after being unsettled by "A Night to Remember". Building on the ironies is that she passed not far from the Titanic's home berth in Southampton, and that she died on the 98th anniversary of the hull's launch. It not the first time either, as her brother passed on the 80th anniversary of the the ship hitting the iceberg.
It took 94 years for the Titanic to pass from living memory and another three to lose all living ties to her in the 21st century. The 100th anniversary arrives in three more years, and it's a shame none lived to see it. She lived a long life, and was fully capable (unlike Barbara Dainton sadly) when she passed peacefully. Millvena, like the other 705 survivors as well as the over 1,500 that left with the ship herself, may now be gone, but her legacy and that of the ship that proved nothing is "unsinkable" forcing sweeping changes in policy and awakening a generation shall live on.
Rest in Peace, Elizabeth Gladys "Millvena" Dean. You will be truly missed by all those touched by that immortal tragedy and bright personality you showed despite of it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8070095.stm Obituary with a great video interview.
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/millvina-dean.html - Encyclopedia Titanica listing.
Though as sad as his passing is, that's not what this post is actually about. Just giving tribute allowed by how I learned of the news. Looking up Carradine on Wikipedia, I stumbled to my usual listing of recent deaths. I was greatly saddened to read to the passing on May 31st of Millvena Dean. I'm sure none of you have heard of her, and I can't blame you, as it's only a name recognizable to those of the interest she pertains to.
Miss Dean was the last living survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. With her gone, there are no longer any people who had walked her decks. Though it should be of note that she was only a few weeks old at the time, her youngest passenger. As such, she retained no memory of the ship. That final honor belonged to American Lillian Apslund, who was five at the time, never liked discussing it or attending events and passed as the third to last survivor on May 6, 2006. That was the date the Titanic sailed out of living memory. Still it's truly a sad occasion.
It's sort of heartbreaking as an enthusiast of the ship to know that no one directly connected to her still lives. Naturally, I regret never getting a chance to meet any of them, nor did I expect to, with most of them in England or reclusive. Millvena seemed like she would've been a fun person to talk to. While Dean had no memories of the ship (nor did she want them) she was rather active in the community, and had no problems being a sort of kitsch celebrity. A trait very unlike some of the other last survivors. The BBC article linked to below has a video suggesting a very cheery woman indeed. She'd often joke about how she wasn't meant to be an American since the ship sank. She was definitely a colorful character until the end. She was also against salvaging, a position I also strongly support. She found visiting the wreck morbid.
She suffered financial problems late in life and made news selling Titanic items (some of which returned to her by winners), and even had friends set up a fund in which Decaprio, Winslet, Cameron and Dion all donated to. Mildly ironic as she refused to watch the movie after being unsettled by "A Night to Remember". Building on the ironies is that she passed not far from the Titanic's home berth in Southampton, and that she died on the 98th anniversary of the hull's launch. It not the first time either, as her brother passed on the 80th anniversary of the the ship hitting the iceberg.
It took 94 years for the Titanic to pass from living memory and another three to lose all living ties to her in the 21st century. The 100th anniversary arrives in three more years, and it's a shame none lived to see it. She lived a long life, and was fully capable (unlike Barbara Dainton sadly) when she passed peacefully. Millvena, like the other 705 survivors as well as the over 1,500 that left with the ship herself, may now be gone, but her legacy and that of the ship that proved nothing is "unsinkable" forcing sweeping changes in policy and awakening a generation shall live on.
Rest in Peace, Elizabeth Gladys "Millvena" Dean. You will be truly missed by all those touched by that immortal tragedy and bright personality you showed despite of it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8070095.stm Obituary with a great video interview.
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/millvina-dean.html - Encyclopedia Titanica listing.