SouthShoreNow.ca

Chester Basin couple brings good news to family

Mark Roberts
Lighthouse staff

 CHESTER BASIN - One precious gift an American family thought was lost forever was found by a Chester Basin couple the day after the crash of Swissair Flight 111.

 In return, the family of famed AIDS researcher, Dr. Jonathan Mann, gave Richard and Goldie Levy an even more precious gift September 2 in Halifax - genuine affection for them and Nova Scotians in general.

 Dr. Mann and his wife, Mary Lou Clements-Mann, died September 2. They were travelling to Geneva, Switzerland, where he was speaking at an international conference.

 Mr. Levy explained he and his wife went to the crash site in their boat the following morning. "We went out at daylight to look for survivors, which turned into a salvage operation."

 The materials they collected were picked up by the Coast Guard and Canadian navy.

 They left port at 6 a.m., but because of the enormity of the operation, ran out of food. However, Coast Guard officials, Mr. Levy said, provided them with sandwiches and they stayed on the ocean until 11 p.m.

 At first, Mr. Levy said, they primarily picked up airplane parts but, because the job was so large - the volume of materials actually slowed their boat down - they decided to collect personal items instead.

 At one point, he said, they had over 50 shoes and numerous other items, such as handbags, knapsacks and life preservers, on board. Each of them used a dip net.

 They then saw a briefcase float by. The case was ripped open at the top and the contents were missing. The words "AIDS RESEARCHER" however, were still legible. Mrs. Levy also recognized the name of the university where Dr. Mann worked.

 Like the other materials, they turned the briefcase in.

 The next morning, he said, they saw Dr. Mann's photograph in a provincial newspaper. Despite their ordeal the previous day, he said, the scope of the tragedy didn't entirely hit them until they saw the photograph.

 They went to the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax September 2 in hopes of meeting the Mann family and other families, who, themselves, requested the meeting.

 They obtained a description of members of the Mann family and eventually found them.

 Mr. Levy said he and his wife were surprised to learn Dr. Mann's family thought the briefcase was lost. "There were six books of records and it wasn't in any of those. They were delighted when we told them we picked up Dr. Mann's briefcase."

 The Mann family has since asked Canadian officials to find the briefcase for them.

 Mr. Levy said Dr. Mann's mother, Ida Mann, who also travelled to Nova Scotia for the memorial services, gave him the briefcase as a gift. Carol Mann, Dr. Mann's sister, said he carried it wherever he went.

 Mr. Levy said he was really "pleased" to meet the family and was overwhelmed by their open affection for Nova Scotians. He said this warmth was repeated in every family member he met.

 They talked to another couple, who lost their son and daughter-in-law. The couple was pleased they found their son's Bible, he said, who, like them, were devote Baptists.

 He said members of the Mann family are returning to the province next year and plan to visit their home.

 "They were all very positive about how they were treated by Nova Scotians. They didn't imagine they would be treated like this."

 Carol Mann is from Jackson Hole, Wyoming and her other brother, Dr. Jeremy Mann, is a pediatrician from Ukiah, California.

 Mrs. Mann said, "I'm here to thank the Levys."

 After once again hugging Mr. and Mrs. Levy, she continued. "The most important thing about this whole experience is it is all about love. If all people could relate to each other like Nova Scotians do, this would be a lot better world. I've cried some tears for grief but most of them are for the love."

 Dr. Mann agreed. He said his brother, who remained humble to the end, devoted his life to health and human rights issues. His brother's unread speech for the 50th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was called "Dignity," he said, a word that appropriately describes Nova Scotians.

 "Every person we've been in contact with has been wonderful. It's amazing and I'm going to carry this character I've witnessed to my practise."