Millvina Dean, the last living survivor of the Titanic disaster, has died aged 97. She was just nine weeks old when the liner sank after hitting an iceberg on 15 April 1912.
Her family had been travelling in third class to America, where they hoped to start a new life and open a tobacconist's shop in Kansas City. Miss Dean's mother, Georgetta, and two-year-old brother, Bert, also survived, but her father, Bertram was among those who perished. The family returned to Southampton, where Miss Dean went on to spend most of her life.
Millvina Dean and mother, 1912Despite having no memories of the disaster, she always said it had shaped her life, because she should have grown up in the US instead of returning to the UK. She was fond of saying: "If it hadn't been for the ship going down, I'd be an American."
In the final years of her life, she began struggling financially. She began selling some of her Titanic-related mementos to raise funds, and in April 2009 a canvas bag from her rescue was sold at auction for £1,500. It was bought by a man from London who immediately returned it to her. Actors Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in the 1998 movie Titanic, also contributed towards her care costs, along with the film's director James Cameron, by donating to the Millvina Fund which was set up by her friends.
John White, managing director of exhibition company White Star Memories, and organiser of the Millvina fund said Miss Dean was always "very supportive". She travelled to exhibitions around the country and took the time to sign autographs and write personal messages for adults and children. "She was a lovely supportive lady and very kind-hearted," he said
This is truly the end of an era.
8 comments:
Thank goodness the poor lady got her belongings back in the end, and help with her bills. Though I don't know why on earth it had to come to that before she got any, sigh. The end of an era, hope she rests in peace with her family at last.
I hope so too Alison. Her death marks the end of an era. There is only one Lusitania survivor (audrey Pearl) and six WWI veteran alive. We shall see the end of these eras soon
Hey Jams, what a great story, thanks for posting this it was well written.
It really is the end of an era!
Thanks Amanda. It really is the end of this era.
She lived a long time!
She certainly had a good innings LB!
it is fortunate she had some support towards the end..bcoz of her links with the Titanic.. i wont like to live too long... unless i can b sure i am financially secure enuf but at some point of time... i wouldnt like to prolong life when health starts to go
I'm glad she got help in the end too. I certainly hope I am not living a long time in old age and very poor health
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