Rhyme of the Modern Mariner

Nick Starace II always knew his life’s passion.

A U.S. Navy veteran, licensed Coast Guard Captain, supertanker designer for Exxon and highly-skilled ship modeler, there was never any doubt for Starace that his passion was the sea.

In his 70s and “semi-retired”, Starace, who lives in Short Hills, now spends every Wednesday volunteering at the VA hospital in East Orange.

“Everything I do at the hospital outside of my family is the most important thing I do with my life these days,” said Starace. “I’ll continue there as long as I can walk!”

Born in Brooklyn, Starace attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, Long Island.

“That was a no-brainer for me,” Starace said. “Very early on I knew my passion was about ships, boats, the sea. That was based on influence mostly from my grandfather who was an ex-seafarer and ship modeler.”

It was the start of a career that has spanned his entire lifetime.

Shortly after graduating, Starace worked aboard U.S. flag vessels, and subsequently spent about 10 years on active duty in the Navy and in the Naval Reserves.

After agonizing for over whether to pursue a career in the Navy or “shore side”, Starace decided on the latter and took a job with the marine transportation department at Exxon, designing, building and operating supertankers throughout a 30-year career. He became Vice President of Exxon’s worldwide ship construction program.

For more than 11 years he lived overseas with his family, supervising construction programs. His work and wanderlust have taken him to more than 80 countries.

“That provided a lot of ammunition for some great adventure,” said Starace. “My ex-wife and I were on the first terrorist air-bombing in 1982.” On a flight home from Tokyo to Honolulu, a bomb blew up under one of the seats, killing a young boy instantly.

“We thought it was over, we really did,” he said. For Starace, his biggest fear was leaving his three kids, young teenagers at the time, without their parents.

For the past eight years, Starace has been a volunteer at the East Orange veteran’s hospital.

“I’ve always had a special place for veterans,” he said, tearing up for a brief moment.

Eager to help out, he said ,“I told them ‘I’ll do anything you want!’ You want me to sweep floors, I’ll sweep floors.”

“I do a whole host of things there, but my core job is as curator – docent – of the museum in the hospital.”

More recently, he’s been administering surveys to long-term patients, asking for feedback on the hospital’s services and recording it on a laptop.

With an easy charm and warmth, Starace looks for connections and shared experiences with all of the patients he encounters.

“I say, ‘I’m a veteran, I’m a volunteer, I’m even a patient here from time to time… so we bond right away.”

While many patients have left lasting impressions with Starace, he discussed one particular Vietnam War veteran who was dying of cancer. He was humbled by the fact that the Marine, though understandably depressed, was not “blaming others for his fate of shutting himself off from those around him.”

“Teary eyed,” Starace said, “he even said that if he were physically fit and called to duty again, he would readily serve. Such is the measure of devotion so many of these veterans possess.”

“The biggest return is the satisfaction that goes with giving – life’s greatest gift is to give!” said Starace. “The feeling is something eternal, something enduring I can hold onto.”

Starace hopes that his memoir White Sails Became Me, published in January 2011, will also be part of an enduring legacy for his children and grandchildren. It chronicles his “seafaring heritage” through vivid accounts of the adventure, joy and tragedy he and his family have experienced.

“I wanted to tell my grandkids what Grandad did with his life,” Starace said. “I also wanted to leave behind a bit of family history.”

The gorgeous ship models on display throughout his home are testament to his enduring passion for the sea. It’s a hobby that he has avidly pursued since he was a child with his grandfather.

“When I lost my son in 1988, I adopted a new motto… Life’s greatest gift is to give,” Starace said. “And that’s part of the legacy I hope to leave my grandkids.”