Alexander Schizas Obituary

To the Family and Friends of Captain Alex Schizas,
Please accept my sincere condolences on your loss and the passing of Alex. I went to the 'Dome' with Alex many years ago, and can truly say that he was one of the most memorable people I knew from that time.

Valerie

God bless you and the boys.

I had the good fortune of knowing and representing the indominable Alex Schizas and Eco-Tankship in his bid to capture a newly constructed LNG tanker from the Enron bankruptcy court in Manhattan. Alex had the entire LNG community on its ear in the summer of 2002 as he was the winning bidder for the vessel in an auction organized by the Court for control over Enron's rights to a 25 year charter on the vessel which was to have been delivered shortly after their bankruptcy filing.
After the Belgian owner of the ship complained, we set to battle in the Enron bankruptcy courtroom. It was a very dramatic scene, including Alex' last minute horsetrading over the rights to the $160 million vessel.
In the end, Alex showed those Texans and the Euros what real nerves of steel he had, which was a character trait I really admired and never second guessed.

Alex later related to me how he had the CAPE EDMONT in Iraq for offloading at the commencement of the war - his first of two tours over there - and he had to stand down layer after layer of military brass who nearly caused the capsize of his ship by commencing the unloading by insisting that they empty the lower decks as a priority to the tanks, trucks and equipment
on the upper decks. He protested and they threatened to arrest him. Nonetheless he stood his ground and took control over the offloading process, after the ship had gained a dangerous list.
Imagine the consequences of the partially loaded and top-heavy EDMONT rolling over and going down at that time, at the principal wharf of the main port used to supply the war effort.
No question that were it not for Captain Alex' nerves of steel and determination to maintain command, I've no doubt the invasion would have been seriously compromised by a maritime disaster.

Alex was his own man, he was a true professional. He lived his life according to a code that Hemingway would have admired, and which he carried out against all odds. What better son could there be, what better example to his sons.
I am privileged to have had him as my friend.

From the news bulletin of Alex's union (Marine Engineers Beneficial Association):



POPULAR MEMBER MAKES FINAL VOYAGE

Popular MEBA member Alex Schizas sailed into the sunset this week after a struggle with cancer. A longtime member who sailed as a deck officer aboard LNG ships and vessels in the Ready Reserve Force fleet, Alex was only 48 years old. He cared passionately about the maritime industry, was a staunch labor activist and a good person. He was a graduate of SUNY Maritime College in New York and a resident of James Island, SC.



His funeral will take place in Charleston tomorrow. Friends and shipmates can leave messages in an online guestbook about Alex that you can access on the web at www.legacy.com.

I was sad to hear of the passing of Brother Alex Schizas. His participation in the our union elections brought many new ideas to the table for debate. I got to know Alex much better when he came to my office when I was union president and presented possible opportunities for the MEBA to return back to employment in the LNG trade. Don Hofer's description of Alex is so true, 'lighting in a bottle'. He was truly a man of action. It is brothers and sisters like Alex that makes our Union so unique. He will be missed.

To the Family of Capt. Alex Schizas,



Alex was a wonderful friend and shipmate. He had an abundance of passion and never lacked in generosity. I loved his enthusiasm and the fact that he was always swinging for the fences. It was an inspiration for us all. My deepest sympathy for his family, in this their time of grief and loss.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Dear Valerie,

It was my great privilege and honor to have know Alex for 30 Years. We meet in 1976 at Fort Schulyer, (The Dome), and have been friends ever since.

During my years at the Dome, I mainly knew Alex, as he was the very close friend and room mate of Don Skurka, whom was my Room Mate on all three Cruises and our 1st Class year.

Alex possessed and unconquerable spirit, a sense of mischief and daring, and he was always looking at the constant and immediate expectation of good in everything. He almost didn’t believe that he had the cancer that finally stopped him. Maybe he believed that he could never be stopped. (All that knew him did).

After Graduating from the Dome, we attended LNG School together. His constant pranks and daily routines endeared him to everyone, and kept all in stitches of laughter and pride.

We served on the very same LNG Ship, the LNG Capricorn together, Alex’s first ship as an Officer. Once again his character endeared everyone on the ship to him. We use to sit around the Dinner table discussing “Our Shipping Company” and how we would do this better and that better, etc... Our conversations were so interesting, that the Captain and Chief Engineer use to sit and listen and smile and laugh. After one of our “Off the wall” comments, the Chief Engineer, Carl Rehbein said “If you do that your company won’t we worth a Crap. Stunned I replied well we’ll name the company “Schizas Hofer International Trading” Co. ), and Alex laughingly replied, that “We’ll paint our Stacks Brown” and we literately all fell out of our chairs with tears in our eyes laughing. Who, other that the ones that really knew Alex, would have know, that 20 years later, he was only one “Yes” away from owning a Brand New LNG Tanker!!!

I had the great privilege of accompanying Alex to the LNG 13 Conference in Korea, where His Banner “Eco Tank ships” greeted everyone attending above the entrance. The mere fact that this was not allowed, didn’t stop Alex. He just compensated the security guards, and the Banner was up, for the entire conference. Also his Video was playing to all that attended until some really big Executive of Shell, one of the sponsor’s protested, and ordered the tech’s to stop playing it. That still didn’t stop Alex. By the end of the conference, we were invited down by Daewoo ship Yards to discus building his fleet of 8 Brand New LNG Tankers, and even more over the top than that was Alex was personally invited to attend the next LNG Conference by the Emir of Qatar. I’ll never forget that. You have all the big wheels of Kellogg Brown and Root, and Shell, and others all standing in line to greet the Emir, and we walked up in front to take some pictures, and “Alex, Captain Alex and Don, please come here”, so we walked up, and the Emir personally invited the both of us, in font of all the major Energy Companies of the world, to come and see him at the next conference!!!! Wow, what a character. Alex was the legend that movies are made of.

And that wasn’t the end of it; upon arriving back to the USA, Kvaerner Moss, invited us up to Philadelphia to discuss build our fleet of Brand New LNG Tankers, and I can go on and on and on.

Alex shared with me that the only two things he ever wanted out in life was to be able to go back to Fort Schulyer as a “Big Wheel”. Actually, just being a Captain, and reaching that position in only 10 years, and all the other accolades he received along the way, was not big enough for Alex! He wanted to go back as a “Shipping Tycoon and Owner”. The other thing he wanted in life was for his Dad to be proud of him.

Only a very short time ago, when I called Alex to see how he was doing, he was more concerned for me that himself. He told me to kick some butt in my business deals, and not to disturb him so much, since he’s taking a lot of naps lately. How can you not love a guy like that?

For all those fortunate few who knew Alex, we knew he was special. He was like Lightning in a bottle, the unconquerable spirit, the very reason to never give up on a dream. We all believed that is was inevitable that he would be a “Shipping Tycoon”. We believed that is was his destiny. We Loved him, we will really, really miss him, and we will never forget him.





Don Hofer

CFO Eco Tankship (Alex’s Shipping Company)

Chief Engineer LNG Fleet, Retired

[email protected]

803-366-8100 ext 228

I have not seen Alex since our time at the Maritime College but I will always remember him as a man of conviction. Alex never took the easy path for the ease of it, but did what he did becouse he knew it was right. He was always a colorfull "caractor". The world will miss Alex.

I am so sorry for your loss.I attended Maritime College with Alex, he seemed like a larger then life character back then. I always admired Alex for his bravado and zest for life. I was very sad to hear of his passing.

Are thoughts are with you and your family.

Some people so gently and deeply impress others as soon as we meet them. Alex was one of these special people. A good honest man has passed. We will fondly remember him.

Dr Scott,



I am terribly sorry for your loss. I know that you don't know me from Adam. All I know is that when I arrived in Charleston that you were the woman to talk to. Last year when I heard that you were giving up your practice to spend time with your husband I thought, that woman has her priorities right, although we will miss her tremendously

You are a wonderful person and Alex God rest his soul knew that too.



Thank you both.



Julie Roberts

It's been twenty-five years since I've seen Alex, but the memories of the times we shared at Maritime are still sharp. In his yearbook blurb he mentioned the spur-of-the-moment trip we made to Atlantic City during Second Class year. We lost all of our money, and I managed to get past the tollbooths on the New Jersey turnpike on the way back by playing dumb, asking the attendant for directions, and zipping away as if I'd simply forgotten to pay, hoping not to see a trooper in my rear-view mirror shortly thereafter. The attendant never sent one after us, so I guess my acting was effective. I can still hear Alex's uncontrollable laughter following that little caper. We ran out of gas in Fort Lee a block from my bank. I walked to the bank and then to the gas station, where I borrowed a gas can and bought enough gas to get my little VW Bug started. The following summer, Alex and I had some good times in the Canary Islands. A picture of us on the beach is on my yearbook page. In the years I knew him, we had some good times, some close calls, and some crazy moments. Alex taught me a lot, too. It was he who once said to me, "Jimmy, being a sailor is a 24-hour-a-day job." He taught to me how to keep my eyes open and to see danger before it materialized. But it was a hidden, unseen danger that finally, far too soon, did him in. Greek, you were one of a kind. I will never forget you.

Dr. Scott

I was sadden to hear of your lost. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

Capt'n AL,

You can, "Run but you cannot Hide'"

I'll see you on the other side.

We still have lots to talk about.

Toasted you at Jazz Fest.

A "Big Easy Brother"

Know that I am thinking about your family at this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Dr. Scott,

Always looked forward to piloting Alec's Cape Edmont. As a former NY'er also we always had something to chat and joke about.

I just found out yesterday of his crossing the bar.

He was a good guy and will be missed.

My condolences to you and the family.

I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear about Alex. Although I haven't seen him since he left the LNG Capricorn decades ago, I was always happy to hear stories about him as he continued his career at sea. My sincere condolences and deep regrets that I learned of this too late to attend and pay my last respects to someone I have dear memories of.

Valeri

He was a friend, and one to share many a good sea stories. I will miss having the opportunity to have him work on one of our boats. I could just see him dressed as a pirate, telling a third grader not to pee over the side as we could get fined for polluting the harbor.

We are sorry for your loss. Alex's standard line in the morning on the ship was "what's the word on the street?" which I've adopted myself over the years. Well the word on the street this week is that one of the best shipmates I've ever worked with has passed. He will be missed.

In our union discussion forums, Alex and I were frequently on different sides on various issues. We sometimes jousted furiously, but ALWAYS with fraternal civility. Occasionally, we would chat off-line, and as union brothers rather than as opponents. Alex brought great credit to our union in every thing he did..



Alex, I will miss you, as will all your former shipmates and union brothers and sisters.



My deepest condolences to those who were much closer to Alex than myself.

My sincere condolences. Alex was a fine shipmate. Captain Don Gavin

I never got the chance to sail with Alex but was fortunate enough to work with him in the ROS fleet here in Charleston and we will all certainly miss him. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Valerie Ann Scott, I am very sorry to hear of your loss, please accept my heartfelt condolences. I have known Alex for almost 30 years and spent many happy days with him while in school and after graduation. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him...

Dr. Scott,

We are so saddened to hear of your loss. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Cynthia Norris

Heather, Juan, Randi and Sam Martinez

I am very sorry to hear of Alex's passing, we shared many laughs and good times at Maritime College.

Dear Doctor Scott,



Please know that you and your family have my deepest sympathy.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.



Sincerely,

Lillian Hern

A great friend and shipmate.

We will miss him daily.

He is in our prayers

It’s a sad day indeed with our loss of Alex.



I’ve known him since the Dome, made some cruises with him and stayed in touch on and off throughout the years….at times it was literally 2 ships passing in the night in the Malacca Straits hauling LNG – clogging up the airwaves with our banter as long as the radio held out.



His passion for his craft and the countless ways he wanted to make it better for all of us… and the fun he had while doing it all….a true maritime character – in only the best of ways.



He touched so, so many lives during his own.



You have my deepest heartfelt sympathies.



Capt. Rick Taylor - MT ’79

Master M/V Cape Ray

Portsmouth, VA

My sincere and deepest condolences goes out to you and family.My prayers are with all of you. may God continue to bless you and keep all of you .

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. It was my priviledge to sail with Capt. Alex a couple of times on the Cape Edmont and to have known him over the past 10 years. He set the standard as a professional ship's Master and he will be missed in the fleet.

Our Deepest Sympathy.

Shipboard Training, USMMA

Dr. Scott,

Please accept our sympathy in the loss of your husband. You are in our prayers.

Love,

Martha, Patrick, Hilary & Lauren Mays

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I worked with Alex on the Cape Edmont when it was in Jacksonville. He always tried to do his best for the ship.



Patrick A. Ramey

Cape Diamond

17 years ago, I met this larger than life character on my first ship: Alex Schizas.



I was in awe of Alex's vast shipboard knowledge combined with a sense of humor that kept you laughing when all seemed to be going wrong.



However, it was his ability to shoot for the moon, that impressed me the most. Climbing mountains was an everyday occurrence for Alex.



Alex was my friend and mentor and I will miss him dearly.

Please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss.

We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

Rest In Peace my Union Brother.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.