User avatar
1969ivan1
Plank Owner
Posts: 1646
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:15 pm
First Name: rob
Location: CINCINNATI, OHIO

Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 7:05 am

A few days ago Allan, Barb, and I voyaged over the Peace bridge near Buffalo into Ontario Canada to Windmill Point Park Quarry to lay Fred Morrison's stone in his favourite dive spot. When we arrived we were greeted by Jerry Giammattolo, who was super gracious and helpful. Jerry gave us some important information as to where the stone could be laid and even supplied some extra cinder blocks in case we thought they would be needed to keep the stone off of the bottom and out of the silt. It turns out that the silt on the bottom of the quarry was not really that deep and the cinder blocks were not needed.
Image

The 180+ Lb. stone was loaded in the back of Allan's Tundra and was easy enough to get to the water thanks to the makeshift harness made from A and D adventures harness material.
Image

We all suited up and took to the water, all in double hose regs and cotton harnesses of course, and searched the area for a suitable location for Fred's stone. Eventually a large quarried stone laying in about 25 feet of water was located and a marker buoy was tied off to it to make our return with the stone easier.

Once the stone was in the water we attached the lift bag and inflated it floating the heavy granite ever so gently across the water to its final resting spot.
Image

With the stone in place the harness material was removed and we left the location for a short dive to allow the silt we had stirred up to settle. After about 20 or 30 minutes we returned to the stone for our last goodbyes.
Image
Image
Image

Allan took some pics and video and I expect that he will post some of them here soon. After the mission was accomplished all three of us travelled back across the longest unguarded border from Fred's homeland back to the USA, where we stopped by to visit Donna Morrison, Fred's Widow. Allan and Barb showed the pictures and video they took and told Donna all about the hard work making the memorial stone by Dave Ali and Roger Van Frank. I think it was safe to say that Donna was touched and pleased by the gesture. I think the stone was fitting
memorial and Fred would have liked it as well.

If you are ever in or near Ridgeway Ontario, please make a special trip to Windmill Point Park Quarry and don a double hose to visit Fred's stone. The quarry has great super friendly staff and nice amenities. I expect that Fred liked this location for some of these reasons.

Image

User avatar
Bryan
Plank Owner
Posts: 5279
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:40 am
First Name: Bryan
Location: Wesley Chapel Florida
Contact: Website

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:19 am

Nicely done gang....Vintage dive events won't be the same without Nature Boy :)
Doing it right should include some common sense, not just blindly following specs and instructions. .Gary D, AWAP on SB

User avatar
captain
Plank Owner
Posts: 1440
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 11:32 am
Location: LaPlace, LA

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:50 am

Great job, Fred is smiling.
Captain

ovalis
Master Diver
Posts: 186
Joined: Thu May 11, 2006 2:48 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:44 am

What a fantastic tribute. That's what you call TRUE friends.

swimjim
Master Diver
Posts: 1694
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:28 am
First Name: Jim
Location: Belgium WI

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:49 am

Very, very nice!

User avatar
JES
Plank Owner
Posts: 1341
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:23 pm
First Name: Joseph
Location: Fleming Island, FL

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:26 pm

What a fitting tribute to Fred.

Thank you Allan, Rob, Barb, Roger, and Dave for taking the time to do this in memory of Fred.
NAVED Master Diver #108
'Anima Sana In Corpore Sano’

User avatar
Robohips77
Master Diver
Posts: 805
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:26 pm
Location: Southwest in the Buckeye State

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:29 pm

That stone and plaque traveled over 3000 miles to get this entire process done. The Plaque by itself went from Dave to Allan to Roger then on to THE STONE (that was from the Abandoned Railroad Corridor in Darke County Ohio that Abe Lincolns's funeral train ran across in 1865) to Florida and the Sea Hunt Live Event back to New York and then on to Canada. Ladies and Gentleman I applaud all of those that made this happen. :D Right down to those that purchased the homemade J rods that I sold for the Fred Morrison memorial fund. 100% of that fund went into making this happen. I would like to note that Dave Ali did not charge a penny for the plaque. :shock: Thanks Dave once again for helping us who continue to dive the oceans and waters of this planet for allowing us to remember a dear friend. Job well done folks.
First dives? 1967 and I never lost the fever.

User avatar
Aileron
Master Diver
Posts: 269
Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:24 am
First Name: Lisa
Location: Stuart, FL

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:22 pm

What a wonderful and touching way to memorialize a great friend. Nice work, Guys and Gals of VDH. I didn't know Fred, but your efforts speak volumes about what kind of diver and gentleman he was.
The Kids: Royal Mistral, Voit Faux 50 Fathom, Jet Air, PRAM x 2, Snark III Silver, DA, Healthways, DA Non Mag
NAVED #205

User avatar
DrunkenParrot
Master Diver
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:15 pm
First Name: Bryce
Location: Stanford, KY

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:30 pm

Aileron wrote:What a wonderful and touching way to memorialize a great friend. Nice work, Guys and Gals of VDH. I didn't know Fred, but your efforts speak volumes about what kind of diver and gentleman he was.
I couldnt have said it any better. Very well done my friends!
Image N.A.V.E.D. Master Diver #207
"Why Is The Rum Always Gone?"

User avatar
DaleC
Master Diver
Posts: 497
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 11:46 pm
First Name: Dale
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Contact: Website

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:34 am

I don't know if it was the same trip but Trace Malin just made a very complimentary thread post about you guys over on the other site. The force must be strong with you if you can turn a tech instructor to the grey side. Hope the link is ok in this case as it speaks well of vintage diving in general: Vintage Divers: Great Ambassadors of the Sport
NAVED #203
#20 International Brotherhood for the Assistance of Stateless Persons

User avatar
JES
Plank Owner
Posts: 1341
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:23 pm
First Name: Joseph
Location: Fleming Island, FL

Re: Fred's Memorial Stone laid to rest in Canada.

Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:52 am

Dale,

Thank you for sharing this awesome link.

Remember, it is always fine to share something like this on VDH. 8)
NAVED Master Diver #108
'Anima Sana In Corpore Sano’

Return to “Vintage Dive Trips or Gatherings”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests