DAVE TRUITT

Dave Truitt, the most current of the “characters” celebrated in this brief biographical history of maritime Chicago, died on October 8, 2024. Dave served in both the Navy and Coast Guard. He continued to celebrate Chicago maritime history until his dying day.

 

Captain Dave spearheaded the restoration of the Dauntless Dive Bomber that hangs from the ceiling of the Midway Airport terminal. The plane is one of many which served the vast flight training program conducted during WWII from a carrier moored at Navy Pier. Dave also skippered the CHARLOTTE ANN, a schooner built in 1888, for ten years until 1995 as a charter vessel. More than one married couple met as deck hands on the CHARLOTTE ANN, and the boat brought wonderful experiences to many others who got to see Lake Michigan from her decks.

 

The Christmas Tree Ship Foundation was also established under Dave’s leadership and in the last years of his life, he donated substantial sums to support The Chicago Maritime Museum. He also left funding to The Truitt Foundation to support the maritime arts and education focused on the maritime history of Chicago. The adjacent picture captures two intangible features of Dave Truitt, his love of life and the feeling he knew some things that you did not!