Friday, April 4, 2008

You Never Know Who You’re Going to Run Into…

By Doug Epperhart






Queen Elizabeth 2, the last great ocean liner, made its final call at the Port of Los Angeles on March 30.

Onboard for a luncheon hosted by the Steamship Historical Society, I spied Stephanie Mardesich, who was there representing Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

Stephanie is the founder/director of the Los Angeles Harbor International Film Festival. This year’s offerings are scheduled for April 24-27 at the Warner Grand.

Stephanie presented a certificate from the City of Los Angeles commemorating the ship’s impending retirement to the ship’s captain, David Perkins. The 963-foot vessel has sailed the seven seas since 1969. Almost every year since 1975, the QE2 has called at L.A. during her round-the-world cruises.



Stephanie Mardesich presents the certificate honoring the Queen Elizabeth 2 to Capt. David Perkins.


The ship succeeded the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, which crossed the Atlantic on a regular basis, transporting the rich and famous between Europe and America during the decades from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Now that the larger and much newer Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria have entered service, the QE2 will retire to Dubai, where a $270-million remodeling will turn the ship into a hotel.

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