If Captain Jim Gladson was the visionary leader – developing our education programs and community outreach – Alice was the backbone of the organization. She not only helped Jim with education and outreach, but she managed a myriad of details behind the scenes to ensure the organization functioned properly. She also spent countless hours helping the staff manage school scheduling, while coaching the education coordinators, volunteer coordinators, and both the paid and volunteer crew… and if there was an issue with any scheduled sail, she figured out a way to resolve it.

In addition to being Jim’s right hand throughout the early years, she joined our Board of Directors early on and remained active up until her passing. She also served as president and led us through some difficult times. That’s why it’s not surprising that Alice logged more than 2,000 volunteer hours each year for many years – sometimes dedicating as many as 2,500 hours to the organization, mission, volunteers, young participants and ships that she loved so much.

Alice was also a key figure during our day sails and voyages for 20 years, and she continued as a frequent leader after that – day after day, voyage after voyage. The number of students who she personally reached over the years is measured in the tens of thousands. She was so genuinely enthusiastic that our young participants would engage with her in spite of their preconceived notions about “this silly old wooden boat and the people on it.” It was also nothing short of magic when Alice and Jim worked together and played off each other.

Alice was known to have a quiet and reserved personality, but she could be outspoken when she needed to be, and long-time volunteers also used the words “genuine” and “magic” when describing her. One of those long-time volunteers, Ed Steiner shared:

“Magic! Captain Mom was magic! She would get a genuine smile from the toughest gang member [aboard the ship] when she called him ‘honey,’ and she could redirect the entire board with a few innocent questions. Alice made not just LAMI but our entire world a better place.”

When a student stepped aboard Captain Mom’s vessel, they entered a world that was new and different to them, and on Captain Mom’s ship, they were not “boys and girls” or “students.” They were “young ladies and gentlemen.” Not all of the young ladies and gentlemen wanted to engage when they came aboard, but Alice had the uncanny ability to continually invite participation in an effort to reach all of them. First, she would allow them their space and let them observe the team activities. Then, later that day or the next day, she invited them back in. She would nurture and guide them, and by the end of the voyage, they were always engaged. She never failed to reach anyone. Her young ladies and gentlemen will tell you that their interactions with Captain Mom were the magic that changed these once-troubled youth and put them on a more positive path.

Nancy Richardson, who – like Alice – was a young Girl Scout Mariner who became a legend in the sail training world, said that Alice was a loyal board member, a generous volunteer, and an extra-special friend who earned the name “Captain Mom” from the thousands of kids who sailed with her!

“She calmed their fears and helped them focus on success – at the helm, hauling together, standing lookout, plotting a course, becoming good shipmates on a team, and thriving on a sailing adventure. They shuffled as they boarded and strutted as they went ashore!”

We are also beyond thrilled to share that we celebrated the impact that she made in our local community just a few weeks ago when Alice was honored at this year’s San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Women’s History Month Celebration. I had the privilege of presenting the posthumous award to her son Jason and daughter-in-law Karin, who represented the family to accept the honor. You can learn more about Alice – including the children’s book that featured “Alice Dare” and the magic she brought aboard a tall ship – in this video created for the event.

While thousands have been impacted by her dedicated efforts over the last 33 years, the lucky ones were those who had the honor of sailing with and learning from Captain Mom personally, especially aboard her beloved Swift of Ipswich. You can see how Alice’s commitment to maritime education and youth development shaped our organization at its core, while touching countless lives and leaving a lasting legacy in the maritime community. I do not think we would have reached our first 20 years as successfully without her significant contributions, and we certainly would not be as strong as we are today – entering our 33rd year – without her dedication and love.