Rear Admiral (Ret.) Bill Baumgartner’s first encounter with Seafarers’ House came in 1982 when he was a young United States Coast Guard (USCG) officer using the services of Seafarers International House in New York City. In the 1990s, he became involved with seafarers’ centers in Texas, helping mariners stranded aboard an abandoned ship. He would later find himself working with …
Merrill Romanik Provides Design Inspiration for New Place of Welcome
Merrill Romanik learned early on about the difficult life of a seafarer from her father who served in the United States Coast Guard. He shared stories of his days at sea and how much he missed home. He also instilled in her the idea that serving his country was one of the most noble and honorable things a person could …
Eugene Sweeney’s Commitment to Seafarers’ House Remains Steadfast
Captain Eugene “Gene” Sweeney was working at Hvide Marine (now Seabulk International), when he first learned of Seafarers’ House. The company’s founder, the late Hans Hvide, was a supporter and Sweeney “followed his lead.” That was more than 20 years ago. Gene was a seafarer, sailing for many years and experiencing first-hand the life of a merchant mariner. He felt …
Ann Burris Has Long History of Supporting Seafarers’ House
After retiring from a career in the telecom industry in 2002, Ann Burris was looking for volunteer opportunities. Her late husband John was a member of the board of Seafarers’ House and he “volunteered” his wife to chair the annual Golden Compass event. In 2005, Ann took over John’s seat on the board, which she held until 2008 when the …