John Fay never called attention to himself, but he leaves a highly respected legacy that truly stretches around the world. In part, that’s because when it came to effectively promoting and defending the rights of all merchant mariners, he never took a backward step.
Fay, who served as the SIU’s executive vice president since 1997, passed away Nov. 8 in New Jersey at age 73. He had undergone surgery earlier the same day for an aneurism.
Fay’s death spurred an outpouring of sympathy, not just from within the SIU but also from other maritime unions across the globe and from other segments of the maritime industry. In those expressions, people remembered Fay both for his lifelong career with the Seafarers (he started sailing with the union in 1949) as well as his decades of service in the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
Believed to have been the longest-serving official in SIU history, Fay sailed in both the deep sea and inland divisions after joining the union as a teenager. The Boston native came ashore in 1957 and stayed on the job ever since.
Fay served as the union’s port agent in Philadelphia from 1966-80. Previously, he held various port-level positions in Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn and elsewhere.
He worked as the SIU’s assistant secretary-treasurer from 1980-87 and then as vice president of the union’s Great Lakes and Inland Waters District from 1988-90. Fay served as secretary-treasurer from 1990-96 and then as executive vice president beginning in 1997.
Beginning in 1975, he participated in forums and other activities involving the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF); the International Maritime Organization; and the International Labor Organization. He was the first American ever to serve as chairman of the ITF’s Seafarers’ Section, a position he held from 1995-2002—and one in which he helped make groundbreaking strides not only for the rights of U.S. mariners but for foreign seamen, too.
“John was one of the most loyal and trusted officials I’ve ever worked with,” stated SIU President Michael Sacco. “He was especially instrumental in helping me during the earliest stages of my presidency—a critical time not just for me personally but for the organization that John loved. He was someone I always turned to when I needed help or advice.”
SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel remembered Fay as “a true brother, a true colleague and a true friend. He was my mentor. John is known throughout the world as a man of great leadership skills and a facilitator of compromise. He was such a genuine person and someone I will always call my friend. I and all seafarers around the world will miss him dearly.”
SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez said Fay’s commitment to the union particularly stood out. “In our business, you meet people who bleed labor and people who bleed maritime, but John Fay bled SIU,” he stated. “His life and career reflected that fact.”
ITF General Secretary David Cockroft pointed out that in his work with the federation, Fay completely focused on the job. “John was never ambitious for high office in the ITF,” Cockroft observed. “He was happy to serve as vice chair until the sudden resignation of the Swedish chair thrust him into the limelight. Both for ITF staff and for John himself, it was a delight to see how he adjusted to the new situation. He was always ready to take advice, but also determined to stand up for what he believed was right. American seafarers as well as seafarers of all nationalities benefited enormously from his wisdom and good humor.”
In a joint letter from Cockroft, Jon Whitlow and Stephen Cotton of the federation’s Seafarers’ Section, the trio noted, “John played a major role in the ITF for many years, and was deeply committed to our organization. He was a true internationalist and a tower of strength in all his work for the ITF, and he will be remembered for this and for his humor and kindness to his colleagues.”
Ake Selander, retired ITF general secretary who worked with Fay since the early 1970s, stated, “John and I traveled the world together in pursuance of our work on behalf of the ITF, and the ITF owes John a lot for keeping the Seafarers’ Section on the right keel. He was a very loyal ITF servant and was always anxious not to offend people. He was eager to learn and very able to assess scenarios and above all he was a realist.”
Strong faith played a key role in Fay’s life—a quality that proved evident in remembrances Nov. 12 at Our Lady’s Church in Leonardtown, Md., where his memorial service took place.
SIU President Sacco noted that whenever he and Fay traveled together, John made sure that one of the first things they did was to locate a nearby Catholic church so they could attend mass. “John was a true believer,” Sacco said. “He never missed a mass, but religion was more than just a weekly service to him. It was a way of life. It was his foundation.”
Father Sinclair Oubre, who celebrated (presided over) the funeral service (and who also is an active SIU member), noted that Fay’s work reflected selfless beliefs that are consistent with his faith. Fay often spoke on behalf of foreign mariners who otherwise wouldn’t have had any voice, Oubre pointed out, and he also devoted his career to the betterment of others.
“For me as an Apostleship of the Sea priest, it was a great honor to be present and bring the prayer of the church for John,” Oubre stated. “It’s a great privilege for a minister of the Apostleship of the Sea to be able to do that for one of its brothers.”
Individuals from all parts of the industry appreciated Fay’s work.
“He exemplified everything about good sense and gentleness with people, whether discussing issues or chatting about life,” said Chris Krusa, maritime training specialist at the U.S. Maritime Administration. “He was a true gentleman and a seafarer’s seafarer. I will never forget how he helped me work with Piney Point’s first towboat operator/ pilot candidates for the U.S. Coast Guard written license exam in Philadelphia in 1972 or thereabouts, and they all passed.”
“I will always think of John as a very courteous person, always trying to help,” said Jean-Yves Legouas, senior maritime specialist with the ILO in Geneva. “For the union as well as for the ITF, I know he’ll be sorely missed.”
Leow Ching Chuan, general secretary of the Singapore Organization of Seamen, said that Fay “will be fondly remembered by us.”
Paddy Crumlin, National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, said Fay “was a tough man shaped by tough times. His wisdom and strength of character translated well into the international labor movement where he became chair of the Seafarers’ Section of the ITF and also one of the leaders of the seafarers group at the International Labor Organization Maritime Preparatory Conferences and Maritime Conferences. His deep knowledge of the industry was instrumental in our campaign to develop decent standards of work and protection for international seafarers, particularly in the flag-of-convenience shipping.”
While it may surprise those who didn’t know him well, a number of condolences received at SIU headquarters noted Fay’s wry sense of humor.
“He had an incredible wit,” observed SIU Vice President Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski. “John could come across as a very stoic figure, but the more you got to know him, these one-liners would come out and it was just hysterical. That’s something I’m going to miss.”
“He had a way of making people laugh,” said SIU Vice President Government Services Kermett Mangram. “He was a great guy, a straight-up guy. I’m going to miss him.”
SIU Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone credited Fay with being “one of the establishing forefathers of this great union. I very much appreciate and give thanks for all the hard work and sacrifices John made over the years to the betterment of this organization.”
“John was a tremendous union official and an even better person,” said SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey. “He was completely dedicated to the union and its membership.”
In addition to the memorial service, John Fay’s life was celebrated during a private ceremony Nov. 13 on the Chesapeake Bay, where his ashes were sent to their final resting place.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; sons John Jr., Patrick and Michael (an active SIU member); daughter Kelly Fay; four siblings and seven grandchildren.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations are sent to the American Cancer Society.
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