Ode to Casey Jones: Casey Jones, Better Watch Your Speed

This story was told to me by my father. It is for a loved one he lost too early to Antarctica.

“The above photo [is taken in Antarctica, specifically at the Geographic South Pole (see: Surveying the South Poles…or Where is the real Pole really? — SouthPoleStation.com)] is from Martha Kane Savage’s memorial page, which should not be missed.” — “Casey Jones”, SouthPoleStation.com

*Some names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Of the nine winterovers, Casey Jones was by far the youngest. Skinny and wiry, with dark hair and a thick beard (like half our crew), he was something like 22 years old and hailed from Old Saybrook, Connecticut. That’s around the same age as Nathaniel Palmer, who first discovered the continent in 1820. Palmer was known for pushing the limits of what was thought possible, and he went farther and farther down south past the icebergs until he saw land. Casey was the same kind of fearless adventurer as Palmer.

“Above, the memorial photo plaque presented to the station by longtime CARA/SCOARA member Robert in 2008 (a bit more information about the plaques)” — “Casey Jones,” SouthPoleStation.com

Casey was our cook, and a good one too. He had attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York and was highly trained as a sous chef and pastry chef. One of his classmates was Anthony Bourdain (though, once asked, Bourdain said he didn’t remember Casey).

Casey’s first two job offers were for the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills (the hotel was where Pretty Woman, starring Julia…