Dr. Milt Waldron, a beloved member of the Semester at Sea family, passed away Tuesday night, surrounded by family and close friends. Dr. Waldron has been involved with the program since his daughter Cynthia (Cindy) Franquemont sailed in the mid-1980s. He sailed on a full voyage as the physician with his wife Betty in 1990 and subsequently sailed on 23 full or partial voyages since that time. “We added it up once, and we’ve spent over four-and-a-half years at sea,” Dr. Waldron once said. “Watching students mature and gain independence is one of the best parts of this program.”
The Waldrons have been generous and passionate supporters of Semester at Sea, funding the naming of the Waldron Clinic on the MV Explorer as well as a field program scholarship (the Milt and Betty Waldron Fund).
The Semester at Sea community lost an incredible man last night. To many who interacted with Dr. Waldron, he was more than someone who was always there to patch or mend scratches, broken bones, seasickness, concussions, travelers’ diarrhea, monkey bites, and homesickness; he was also a laugh-until-you-cry storyteller, die-hard Broncos fan, and dear friend to many. Dr. Waldron is survived by his wife, Betty, his son Brent, daughter-in-law Angela, daughter Cynthia (Cindy) Franquemont, son-in-law Doug Franquemont, and six grandchildren, Christopher, Daniel, Sarah, Logan, Dahlyn, and Cameron (in addition to countless shipboard extended family members). His presence on Semester at Sea impacted the lives of innumerable voyagers and will be felt for years to come. Please join the Institute for Shipboard Education and Semester at Sea voyagers in celebrating the life of someone who was such a compassionate and inspirational member of our community.
At the request of Betty and the rest of the Waldron family, family and friends are invited to celebrate Milt’s life during a memorial service on the 2018-2019 Homecoming Voyage aboard the MV World Odyssey.
