Remembering Margaret Bradley, C-167
By Sarah Mollo, W-167
Page 2
When I learned of Margaret's passing last July, I was stunned and deeply saddened. I called SEA immediately and spoke to former Alumni and Parent Relations Coordinator Siobhan Sheerar. The moment I identified myself as a member of the class of 167, Siobhan knew why I was calling. Since Margaret's parents Keith and Mary Jo Bradley are Falmouth residents and active in the community, news traveled quickly to SEA faculty and staff. Gary Jaroslow, chief scientist of Margaret's voyage, reached out to our class, offering support.
Captain Séan Bercaw, Sarah Mollo, W-167, Keith Bradley, Mary Jo Bradley, Gina Coggio, C-167, and Kate Owens, C-167.
I contacted two classmates, Kate Owens, Margaret's life-long friend, and Gina Coggio, who had both sailed alongside Margaret aboard the Cramer. Together, we shared the news with our respective mates and crews and everyone agreed that we needed to honor Margaret's connection to SEA.
Gina and Siobhan worked together to determine a fitting gesture to acknowledge SEA's impact on Margaret's life. Siobhan suggested that our class raise funds to purchase a sextant for the Cramer, dedicated in Margaret's name.
With the support of SEA faculty and staff, our class raised enough funds for not just one sextant, but two. SEA considered our gifts to Margaret's sextant fund restricted donations to the annual fund as well. With 87% class participation, we won the overnight sail aboard the Cramer during our 5th Year SEA Reunion. What a gift Margaret gave to us—another night at sea!
We realized there would not be a more opportune time for a formal dedication of the sextants than aboard the Cramer. We invited Mr. and Mrs. Bradley to Dyer's Dock to present them with a plaque identical to the ones placed on the wooden sextant boxes.
The Friday afternoon of Reunion, ten alumni from Class 167, some of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, and other SEA friends climbed aboard the Cramer. I was happy to find Séan Bercaw as the captain of our short overnight voyage. He knew Margaret well and was my captain aboard the Westward five years earlier. This time, we were together on Margaret's ship.
Margaret Bradley, C-167 May the memory of Margaret, a true star, live on in celestial guidance to steer you safely home. Forever honored here by her friends and mates.
The day was one of those perfect Woods Hole afternoons when the low sun behind you warms your back and the blue sky is peppered with white wisps of clouds. The sextants were placed on the quarterdeck on either side of the wheel. With Kate and Gina by my side, I said a few words to the Bradleys, and to Margaret:
"Margaret's spirit will live on always in our hearts and out at sea." Followed by three short cannon blasts, symbolic that a sailor has been lost at sea, we presented Mr. and Mrs. Bradley with the plaque, which reads:
Margaret Bradley, C-167 May the memory of Margaret, a true star, live on in celestial guidance to steer you safely home. Forever honored here by her friends and mates.
Aboard the Cramer, Margaret's shipmates witnessed her grow, share herself and rely on others as never before. We hope our class gift will enable future SEA seafarers to view the vast sky as Margaret did, keeping her memory alive. Future students on the Cramer will now pick up "Margaret" to look at the stars.