Edwin Charles Kaminski

Captain Edwin Charles Kaminski died March 23, 2016, in western Colorado after a brief illness.

Born in Rochester, N.Y., to Joseph and Agnes (Pluskwa) Kamienski, he spent much of his childhood on the family farm in Webster, N.Y., graduated Valedictorian of his high school class, and embarked on a long, eventful, and illustrious career on the high seas after graduating from the New York Maritime College and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. He did postgraduate studies in U.S. Navy schools and completed a program in nuclear technology at Kings Point that qualified him as Master of the Nuclear Ship Savannah, commissioned by President Eisenhower as a symbol of how nuclear power could be used for peaceful purposes. Of all the ships he commanded, this was his favorite.

During World War II, Capt. Kaminski received as his first command, at the age of 24, the Liberty ship S.S. George Dewey. He served as Master of the Dewey in the North Europe and Mediterranean areas, and also served as Commodore of convoys in British coastal waters and in cross channel operations to the Normandy Beaches from the initial landings to the end of the war in Europe.

His next command was the S.S. Kingspoint Victory, fitted out as a troop ship to carry Allied troops and to support the French in Indo China. After the war, Capt. Kaminski sailed as Master on cargo ships and Staff Captain on the S.S. Independence and S.S. Constitution for American Export Lines before going ashore as Marine Superintendent and Operations Manager of the company. He returned to sea in 1964 to take his turn as Master of the N.S. Savannah between stints as Master of cargo vessels until his retirement from Farrel Lines, the successor of American Export Lines, in 1979.

Capt. Kaminski was a member of the Marine Society of the City of New York, The Council of American Master Mariners, and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. His war experiences are summarized in the book, Merchant Mariners at War by George and Christine Billy.

Ed loved to sing and play the harmonica, serenading his first wife, Mary Anne Liebl Kaminski and their six children upon return from his many voyages. He also loved to garden and would often offer her a rose “as a token of my love.” They spent 38 years together, first in Pelham, N.Y., then in northern New Jersey, before moving to Contoocook, N.H., during the time when he had returned to sea, and finally retiring together in Jekyll Island, Ga.

After her death, he spent 30 years serenading his second wife, Marguerite Tapley Gregor Kaminski, at their homes in Palm City, Fla., and her family home in West Brooksville, Maine. It is fitting that his second wife was the descendent of sea captains herself. Several years after the death of Marguerite, he moved to Delta, Colo., to be near one of his daughters, Stephanie Tolen (Stu). In addition to Stephanie, he is survived by his other children, Josephine Bailey of Manchester, N.H., Edwin Kaminski (Karen) of Canterbury, N.H., Michaela Hancock (John) of Potomac, Md., Marguerite Kaminski of Whitefish, and Christine Tolen (Peter) of Milwaukee, Wisc. He also is survived by his stepchildren, Dick Gregor (Carol) of West Brooksville, Maine, and Bill Gregor (Grace) of Boston and Brooksville; his sister, Helen Cahill of Palm City, Fla.; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. In addition to his wives, he was also predeceased by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Alfreda Kamienski; his brother-in-law, Joseph Cahill; and his son-in-law, William H. Ling.

A memorial service will be held later in New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to a charity that supports veterans and music groups. To leave a message for the family, visit www.sunsetmesafuneraldirectors.com/

The sound of music goes on, but Captain Ed’s strong voice will be missed by all.