[NickfromPhilly]

July 25th, 1956, was a pretty significant date in my young life. On that evening, shortly after 11:00 P.M., the Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria collided with another ship, and sank (by midday of the 26th), off the coast of Nantucket, MA. One of the most beautiful ships ever built, with an abundance of artwork inside, had met her fate after being rammed broadside, by the Swedish liner Stockholm. Later investigation showed that both ships had no idea of the close proximity of the other, on an extremely foggy night. The dramatic news photos, the next day, of the capsized luxury liner (out of Genoa), laying on her starboard side, left a lasting impression on this (then) 9 year olds' mind.

My Great Uncle Nick had sailed to Italy on the Doria the year before. We had the only car in my Dad's family (at that time), and we were "elected" by my Grandparents to take Uncle Nick and Aunt Mary to the dock in New York. I was mystified by the fact that something that I had seen, first hand, that seem so majestic and opulent, was now resting on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

There were a number of deaths, including Jerry Vale's Grandmother, who was returning to the U.S. More incredible was the fact that a 15 year old girl, asleep in her bed on the Doria, at the time of the crash, rode the battered bow of the Stockholm into New York Harbor the following day. No one realized that she was there until the Stockholm docked at the pier in New York City. Seemingly impossible, but true, nonetheless!

The 2nd trauma that very same night, was the fact that Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis performed their last show together (as a team) at that very same time, at the Copacabana in NYC. Their final performance came ten years to the day, from the formation of their partnership on July 25th, 1946, at Paul D'Amato's 500 Club in Atlantic City. As kids, we felt like there was a "death in the family" at this news.

56 years ago - so hard to believe!! In some ways, it seems like yesterday. In other ways, it seems another lifetime ago.

[irene soggia]

Nick, I love your way of telling the matters of life.

Here are pictures of the tragedy of the Andrea Doria.
Even Dino and Jerry picture in July 1946.

[NickfromPhilly]

Ciao, Irene!!! Thank you for your kind words, and for posting those memorable pictures! They make my memories all the more vivid! You are wonderful! It's amazing how quickly you post photographs right after Forum posts!

[irene soggia]

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Ciao Nick, You've written that you like my graphic art, I have done this for you!

[voice1]

Memories can be powerful things. And your expression of your memories has made a memory for me even though I wasn't yet born. Thanks Nick.

[Rhodalee]

Hard to believe it's so long ago. My cousin Vera was on another ship right near it. That ship picked up passengers.

[ARIES3032]

I was rather young, but I do remember this terrible loss.

[johnofphilly]

Originally Posted by voice1

Memories can be powerful things. And your expression of your memories has made a memory for me even though I wasn't yet born. Thanks Nick.

Nick, there's no point in my paraphrasure.
Nor does it surprise me that Rick could echo my sentiments as a three year old in the Pennypack project at the time.

[NickfromPhilly]

Thanks Irene! Your computer artwork is terrific. Also thanks to Rick and John for your kind comments.

To Rho & Lee, I can say that, as a very sheltered 9 year old (that I was then), these two events were the first indication, in my young life, that it wasn't the "perfect world" that I had always envisioned it was, up to that time!@