The Marcel Family
By: Elizabeth Bowman

Michel Marcel was born on June 12, 1908 in Nice, France.  When Michel was four, his father stole his brother and him away from their mother.  His father, Michel Navratil, took them on the Titanic as second class passengers.  When they got on the boat, Mr. Navratil signed in under the name of Hoffman.  During the maiden voyage, Michel and Edmond never left their father’s sight except for once when he went to go play cards.  When he was out, he left Bertha Lehmann to watch over them. 

Later, as an adult, Michel described the events on the night of the sinking:

"My father entered our cabin where we were sleeping. He dressed me very warmly and took me in his arms. A stranger did the same for my brother. When I think of it now, I am very moved. They knew they were going to die."

When they were on the deck, Edmond and Michel were put in the last boat called “Collapsible D.” When they saw the Carpathia on the horizon, they knew that they would live.  Michel remembered getting pulled up the side of the Carpathia in a burlap bag.  When on the ship’s deck, they were the only boys unclaimed, so Miss Margaret Hays took care of them until any family members claimed them.  Then one day, their mother recognized them in a news article and contacted the White Star Line immediately.  They sent her on a boat to New York to unite with her two boys, and also arranged travel back to France.

Michel Marcel went to a university and married a fellow classmate in 1933.  He graduated with a degree in psychology.  In 1987, he was the last surviving male from the Titanic, and on January 30, 2001 he died at the  age of 92.   

Edmond Marcel was born on March 5, 1910 in Nice, France and had the same adventure as his brother.

Edmond Marcel worked as an interior decorator than became an architect and builder.  After awhile he got married, and had a good life.  During his marriage he fought with the French army.  He got captured and became “prisoner-of-war.”  Edmond escaped from camp.  When he escaped his health had suffered and he died in 1950 at age 43.

Works Cited

 "Master Edmond Roger Navratil." www.encyclopediatitanica.com. 2007. 29 Apr 2008 <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/edmond-roger-navratil.html>.

"Master Michel Marcel Navretil." encyclopediatitanica. 2007. 15 Apr 2008 <www.encyclopediatitanica.org>.