NIELSON

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, May 04, 2006 at 13:48:51 :

Independent Journal
[San Rafael, CA]
Saturday, June 28, 1952
Page 3

Carl C. Nielson Dies, Ferry Captain, Writer

Carl C. Nielson, a salty ex-ferryboat captain who was beached when his employer went out of business, died yesterday at his Alto home.

Nielson, 60, turned to writing after his retirement from the bay boats which he – and countless commuters – loved. In recent years he had been Marin county correspondent for the Daily Pacific Builder, construction trades newspaper.

He was an occasional contributor to the columns of the Independent Journal. His most recent feature article appeared in the Wednesday issue of this newspaper.

Nielson had been ill only briefly. A robust Scandinavian, he was described by former associates as “a very scholarly gentleman” despite his meager early schooling.

Born in Denmark, he began his sailing career before the first World War aboard his homeland’s sailing schooners. During the war he sailed between Denmark and the United States. After he came to the United States, he became second mate of the old Sierra, which sailed on the Perkins line run from San Francisco to Australia.

His captain aboard this ship was Randolph N. (Rudy) Pettersen of Forest Knolls.

When Pettersen joined the old Golden Gate ferry fleet, Nielson went along with him and remained a second mate. It was not long before Nielson himself became a captain.

He continued with Golden Gate ferry and its successor, Southern Pacific Golden Gate Ferries, Ltd., until the Sausalito run was abandoned two years after the Golden Gate bridge was completed.

For a time after he and his wife, Jane, moved to Marin 28 years ago, Nielson resided in Sausalito. He then bought a lot on Wye road in Alto, and watched the community grow up around his home.

Nielson was a member of Danai, a Danish lodge, and the Master Mates and Pilots Association No. 40. He served on the union’s board of directors, and was noted as a “cool head” in labor disputes.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday from memorial chapels of Russell & Gooch, Mill Valley. Interment will be private.