Winnifred Quick
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| Winnifred Quick Van Tongerloo | |
| Born | Winnifred Vera Quick January 23, 1904 Plymouth, England |
|---|---|
| Died | July 4, 2002 (aged 98) Lansing, Michigan |
| Spouse | Alois van Tongerloo |
| Parents | Frederick Quick and Jane Richards |
| Relatives | Phyllis Quick (sister) |
Winnifred Vera Quick Van Tongerloo (January 23, 1904 – July 4, 2002) was one of the last five remaining survivors of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Winnifred Vera Quick Van Tongerloo was born in Plymouth, England on January 23, 1904 to plasterer Frederick Charles Quick and his wife, Jane Richards. A second daughter, Phyllis May, would be born on July 27, 1909.
In 1910, Winnifred's father decided to immigrate to the Detroit, Michigan in the United States with the hope of finding a better life for his family. He travelled alone and would send for his wife and daughters when he was financially secure. In the meantime, the Quick's would live with Jane's mother in Plymouth. By early 1912, Frederick was established and secure and sent for his family. Soon after Jane booked passage for herself and her daughters, she was notified that her ship's sailing had been cancelled due to a coal strike, but that they would be transferred to the RMS Titanic which was set to sail on April 10, 1912.[1]
[edit] Aboard Titanic
Eight-year-old Winnifred, along with her mother and sister, boarded the Titanic as second-class passengers at Southampton, England. Despite calm seas, Winnifred was seasick for most of the first four days.[2]
On April 14th, Winnifred and her family went to bed shortly after 9 p.m. Neither Winnifred, her mother, or sister, felt the ship's collision with the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. It was only after a passenger knocked on their cabin door telling them there had been an accident, did the Quick's realize something was wrong. Not thinking the ship was seriously damaged, Jane took her time getting dressed. A steward peeked his head inside the cabin and seeing how slow Jane was getting ready, demanded the family get their lifebelts on as the ship had struck an iceberg and was sinking.[3]
Winnifred and her sister were awakened and dressed, and along with their mother, walked up five flights of stairs to A-Deck. On deck, an unknown gentleman helped calm Winnifred who was crying hysterically, and fasted Phyllis with a lifeboat. Jane put Winnifred and Phyllis in Lifeboat No. 11, but she was initially denied entry herself when the man in charge uttered, 'only room for the children'. Jane told the man, 'either we go together or we stay together'. The man finally let Jane join her children; she was the last one allowed in the lifeboat, which according to Jane, held roughly 50 people.[4] Even in the lifeboat, Winnifred continued to cry until someone noticed her shoes had fallen off and her feet were sitting in the freezing water.[5]
Winnifred finally fell asleep but was awoken when people around her cheered as the rescue ship RMS Carpathia became visible. Winnifred and Phyllis were put in a sack and pulled to Carpathia's deck. Winnifred later recalled seeing many survivors weeping and even observed burial at sea for several passengers who had died in the lifeboats.[6]
Winnifred's father heard the news of Titanic's sinking, but received a wireless message that his wife and daughters were safe. He was at the dock in New York on April 18th when the RMS Carpathia arrived. The Quick's spent the night as guests of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society. The following morning, the Quick's left New York City on the New York Express and arrived in Detroit on April 20th.[7]
Winnifred's mother died in 1965 at the age of 84, and her sister, Phyllis, passed in 1954.
[edit] Career and marriage
Winnifred did not like attending school and quit after graduating from the eighth grade. She worked various jobs including making candy and as a sales clerk at a department store.
In 1918, Winnifred met Alois Van Tongerloo and the two were married in 1923. Alois was a master carpenter, and Winnifred did not work. The marriage produced five children.[8]
[edit] Later life
In 1966, Alois retired and the two began travelling throughout the country, visiting every state except Hawaii. Winnifred was once asked if she would ever make a return trip back to England. "No!" she replied, "I don't like big boats! I like to go in the water up to my neck but not on top of the water over my head!"[9] Although Winnifred did not mind talking about her experiences on the Titanic, she did not attend any organized gathering of Titanic survivors.[10]
[edit] Death
Winnifred died on July 4, 2002 in East Lansing, Michigan at the age of 98. She was one of the last five remaining survivors, and was predeceased by her husband, and two of her children.
[edit] External links
- Winnifred Van Tongerloo, Titanic Passenger, dies at 98
- Titanic Historical Society Article
- Encyclopedia Titanica Biography
| Preceded by Edith Haisman |
Oldest living survivor of the RMS Titanic January 20, 1997 – July 4, 2002 |
Succeeded by Lillian Asplund |
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