Dear friends and readers:
My apologies for having been silent over the past two days. As many of you have heard by now, we have suffered a devastating loss.
Captain John W. Doswell, our captain, our North Star, our guiding light passed away on Friday 2 January, 2015 and the WHC family and the whole waterfront community has been reeling from the news.
I have barely parsed the news of his passing and am now faced with this daunting task of writing a eulogy befitting of my friend. So many things to say about Capt. John…where to start?
Captain John W. Doswell
John Doswell was a bona fide superhero. He created beauty from decay, he restored life to stagnant waters, he built people into a community, where before there was none.
You could always find John working. The man never stopped doing. There were piles of documents neatly stacked in the “dungeon” – the basement office from where Capt. John would steer the constant stream of waterfront projects, events, educational programs, working harbor tours and more. With that wry smile of his, he worked tirelessly on, even when he discovered he was ill.
John was so passionate about the ‘6th boro’ he dedicated the last decade of his career to our waterfront. He founded Friends of Hudson River Park, and Pier 84 is what it is today because of him. He was an integral member of many illustrious waterfront organizations and committees – North River Historic Ship Society, Community Board 4, Save Our Ships New York and the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, to name a few.
He was one of the original group of friends who bought the Fireboat John J. Harvey, and helped to restore her to working glory. He was onboard the fireboat, pumping water onto Ground Zero on 9/11 and he was onboard (with a flask of hot chocolate under his arm) safeguarding her during Hurricane Sandy.
But for me, he was the ‘guy who made things happen’. As executive director of the Working Harbor Committee, John would orchestrate the most amazing extravaganzas. 22 years of Tug Boat Races, international ship visits (including a 16th century replica of a Spanish Galleon), OpSail 2012, where part of the challenge was to find berthing for dozens of vessels from around the world.
Only one man could make it all happen. Doswell.
John would narrate every single harbor tour, enthralling boat-loads of passengers with details about the workings of our magnificent harbor, peppered with stories of lighthouse keepers and fireworks disasters. The thought of never hearing his ‘fireworks story’ again as we approach Erie Basin, makes me immeasurably sad.
If you wanted to know pretty much anything about New York Harbor, you could ask John. I will always regret not asking John more stuff. I thought I had more time.
But beneath all the hustle and bustle stood this really great man. Smart, funny and sincere, John was a kind, loving and supportive husband, father and friend.
His love and passion for the waterfront paled in comparison to his love for his daughter Jhoneen and his life-partner wife Jean. In perfect sync, they were always together, whether working to save a historic ship from scrap or traveling together to exotic seas. Their love and respect for each other so evident and beautiful.
John, always gracious, welcomed everyone with open arms and an open heart. He never spoke an unkind word about anyone, or lost his temper, that I know of. His positivity permeated everything he did.
Every obstacle was a challenge we could overcome, every set back merely a springboard to success, in every dark cloud he would see only the silver lining.
We have lost a great teacher. We have lost a great leader. We have lost a great man…
Fair Winds Captain John.
-Mai Armstrong
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January 26, 2015 at 1:10 am
Alice F. La Brie
Capt Doswell was among the honorees at the October 6, 2014 Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance’s “Heroes of the Harbor Award Dinner and Parade of Boats”, which he organized, I presented a personal recognition of a small New York wall magnet of a commercial boat sailing under a bridge, receiving an immediate handwritten thank you, I will treasure always in memory of his “Working Harbor Tours” that taught the value of a Working Harbor to my city, empowering my layman’s support to honor and preserve a Working Harbor. Each time I see commercial activity on our waters I will think of you, Capt. John Doswell, with heartfelt appreciation for your service to the City of New York, to the United States of America. Thank you.
Alice F. La Brie
December 15, 2015 at 9:46 am
John K. Mackenzie
I knew him well, once – – when we both worked for a pioneering audio/visual company called CHARISMA — and later when he made invaluable contributions to the creation of Mackenzie, Schwartz & Kerman. Rest well, John. We will all be fortunate should we ever find
another man with your compassion and talents!
December 15, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Working Harbor Committee
Capt. John spoke of CHARISMA often, and was very proud to be a part of the team.
-Mai
January 9, 2015 at 8:39 am
tugster
well spoke about a great loss. fair winds!
January 5, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Gordon A Cooper
Well said Mai! Capt. Doswell was a very special soul, and a great loss to all whom knew him even briefly, as his generous spirit that warmed and inspired all those close to him, also infected people he’d just met with joy and respect.
January 5, 2015 at 11:36 am
shorebird777
Shattering news… Please give our heartfelt condolences to his family, and to the Working Harbor staff. We had the privilege of sailing with Captain Doswell and Bill Miller on an unforgettable Working Harbor tour last year, and were looking forward to more this year. A great man…
January 5, 2015 at 11:22 am
Wendy
Absoutely Beautiful!
January 5, 2015 at 11:01 am
joe boyle
i think this story should be hie eulogy.i have never heard of this man but am very touched by your words
January 5, 2015 at 10:45 am
nykeypad
my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your friends. sending thoughts and prayers to you and to his family.
January 5, 2015 at 10:45 am
catpenfold
Perfect.