Captain Robert M. Cusick was born today on April 10, 1923, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the chief mate and one of only three survivors on the SS Marine Electric when she sank on February 12, 1983. His testimony in the investigation which followed helped lead a major reform of US maritime safety standards.

When the Marine Electic sank, Cusick was throw into the 39 degree F Atlantic waters. He found a swamped lifeboat and hauled himself aboard. As the seas broke over him he found himself singing “rise again, rise again” from Stan Rogers’ song, “The Mary Ellen Carter.” Here is Captain Cusick telling the story from the documentary, “One Warm Line.”  Captain Cusick died on Thursday September 12, 2013 at the age of 90.

Stan Rogers performs “The Mary Ellen Carter” in One Warm Line documentary

Thanks to Paul Bryant-Smith for contributing to this post.