Stop by the museum or call for tickets!

 

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We here at the Museum are saddened by the loss of one of our friends. Stan was a wonderful tour guide, a fantastic volunteer and we always received great feedback from the guests about his tours. But above all, he was our friend.

We will never forget his smile and quiet good humor through out the day and our Thursdays will never be the same again without him.

 

Stanley J. Romanowski, age 76 of Fremont, formerly of East Grand Rapids, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 24 2018 at the Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids. Stan was born on October 14, 1941 in Moline, Illinois and joined the United States Navy where he served during the Vietnam War. He met the love of his life, Joan C. Harrigan, and were married on May 3, 1963 in Beacon Falls, Connecticut. Stan and Joan were the typical military family. He simultaneously attended Miami University of Ohio, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science, moving multiple times, and raising a young family, he was honorably discharged as Lieutenant after 14 yrs. Newly employed by Wachovia Bank as a systems analyst, Stan wrote the program styling, that we have come to know as the ATM machine. After moving to the Grand Rapids area, Stan became very active as the East Grand Rapids Freshman Baseball Coach, coaching not only his boys, but many others and was fondly referred to as “Coach Romo”. He eventually retired from Steelcase in 2003, but then continued to work independently as an analyst and developer. In 2004, Stan and Joan decided to build a retirement home on Martin Lake in Fremont. After personally completing the construction of his home, he invested his time as an active member of the St. Michaels Catholic Church in Brunswick, was a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. He made many dear friends, meeting faithfully every Wednesday for “trash night” with the Martin Lake locals. As a lifelong volunteer, he had been active with Habitat for Humanity and spent 6 months in Louisiana, following hurricane Katrina, helping the rebuild efforts there. Currently, Stan was an active volunteer and tour guide at the USS Silversides in Muskegon, giving tours on a submarine, reminiscent of how he had spent the better part of his earlier years.

 

SURVIVORS : his wife of 55 years, Joan of Fremont; his children and grandchildren, Kathleen (Darryl) Matthews of Grand Rapids and children, Michael, Alex, Kaitlin; Steven (Marsha) Romanowski of Albion, Indiana and children, Seth, Spencer, Sidney; Stanley “Jay” (Janet) Romanowski Jr. of Grand Rapids and children, Carly and Alaina; sister-in-law, Ann Romanowski of Iowa City, Iowa; nephews and niece, Joe, Brian, Robert, Rebecca, and Sean. He was preceded in death by his brother, Michael Romanowski.

 

TIME OF REMEMBERANCE AND CELEBRATION : Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018 from 2-5pm at The Oak Leaf Lounge at Thousand Oaks 4100 Thousand Oaks Drive Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (Use the Red’s Restaurant entrance then left upstairs). VISITATION : Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 from 2-5pm at the Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel 7193 W 48th Street Fremont MI 49412 and Monday from 10-11am at the St. Michaels Catholic Church in Brunswick. ROSARY SERVICES : Sunday, at 4:30pm at the funeral home. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL : Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 at 11am at the St. Michaels Catholic Church 6382 S Maple Island Road Fremont MI 49412. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : Habitat For Humanity or Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids.

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2018 Fall Lecture series

The USS Silversides Submarine Was featured on the Smithsonian Channel

July 1, 2018 

The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is excited to announce the second season of the Smithsonian Channels Series Hell Below featuring our own Submarine currently on display in Muskegon, Michigan.  The USS Silversides, an historic Gato class submarine; received twelve battle stars for World War II service and was awarded one Presidential Unit Citation for cumulative action over four patrols. She is credited with sinking 23 ships, the third-most of any allied World War II submarine, behind only the USS Tang and USS Tautog. The tonnage of the ships sunk by Silversides amounted to 90,080 tons, second only to Tang's total. Judged by such standards, Silversides has the most prolific combat record of any still-extant American submarine. She is has been the primary artifact at the USS Silversides submarine Museum for 30 years. The museum and Submarine are open year round. Please see www.silversidesmsuem.org.

This series features work by author James Scott who wrote the book the war Below. Here is a link from when he spoke at the museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhlvlPH-OqM

Sneak Peek: https://appbox.sho.com/snav72gs9

WITNESS THE BATTLE BENEATH THE WAVES IN

HELL BELOW

SEASON TWO PREMIERES SUNDAY, JULY 1 AT 9 PM ET/PT ON SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL™

NEW YORK – June 14, 2018 – Submarine attacks are among the most feared forms of maritime warfare. During World War II, these underwater campaigns had no borders – spanning from the frigid waters of the North Atlantic to the crystalline expanse of the South Pacific. The U.S. Navy and the other Allied powers faced off against German U-boats and Japanese forces set on unrestricted submarine warfare. HELL BELOW details both the successes and tragedies of these underwater conflicts in World War II and during the Cold War with all new episodes beginning Sunday, July 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

HELL BELOW profiles the strategic and military masterminds behind these submarine campaigns as well as the rapidly evolving technology used in stalking and battle. Each hour-long episode features expert analysis and stock footage along with dramatic re-enactments filmed aboard authentic World War II era submarines, placing viewers in the heart of battle.

The season premiere, IN ENEMY WATERS, tells the story of the USS Silversides during World War II. Under the command of charismatic Lt. Cdr. Creed Burlingame, the USS Silversides sets course for Guadalcanal as part of the campaign to liberate this key island in the Pacific. While the crew must prevent Japanese supplies and reinforcements from reaching Guadalcanal at all costs, it faces unexpected challenges, including a desperately ill crew member needing emergency surgery as the sub enters a battle zone close to the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul.

In the series finale, World War II gives way to the Cold War and the stealth strategy of global superpowers. HELL BELOW joins the Soviet submarine B-59 en route to Cuba, carrying a nuclear-tipped torpedo that brings the world closer to nuclear war than anyone ever imagined.