Today’s blog is not what I had planned to post. Instead of a fun look at my life as a Carnival Cruise Director I will be writing about a man whose heart beat the red, white and blue of Carnival Cruise Lines………….his name was Meshulam (Mike) Zonis ……………….. who passed away last night.
Who?………………….I know that’s what many…………… if not all of you are saying ………………”Mike who?……………”Never heard of him?”
So, let me tell you what I know and what I remember of this great man.
First of all, I can’t call him Mike…………nobody did…………and while Presidents and other high ranking Carnival executives were and are comfortable with shipboard and shore side employees referring to them by first name………….everyone called him “Mr. Zonis” ……….it was a mark of respect………..total and utter respect and to call him Mike would have been like calling Her Majesty the Queen “Lizzy.”
When our founder Ted Arison swung wide the door of opportunity for cruising to be a vacation for you and me and not just the rich and tanned, he knew he needed a right hand man…………someone who could control the operation? And so the first employee he ever hired was Mr. Zonis who became the Senior Vice President of Operations. Really though, he was the Senior Vice President of……well………..everything. Outside of Ted and Micky Arison and later Bob Dickinson, Mr. Zonis was the boss and when he said jump………….we all jumped ………..as high as we possibly could.
Among his contemporaries Mr.Zonis holds a unique place. Few, if any, have so lastingly and so profoundly influenced the cruise industry— not just Carnival but also beyond.
To describe Mr. Zonis is not an easy task. He was a complicated man who had an understanding of how a few words can be made to resonate and whose character had the ability to motivate, grip, frighten and amuse. And beneath that sometimes gruff pestering were a huge heart and a true and passionate love for his job and the people who worked with him.
He had the memory of an elephant…………he never ever forgot anything and that was wonderful and yet frightening.
Let me explain.
In 2006 Mr. Zonis and his wife Clara sailed with me on the Carnival Liberty in Europe. He was retired by then and I had not seen him for some years. Well, one night at the show I introduced a brilliant cello entertainer who performed as we sailed from Venice.
Mr. Zonis had many loves and one of them was music, especially jazz, big band and classical. Anyway, he loved this entertainer and after the show he told me he wanted a CD of him. Of course, this was Mr. Zonis so I said “Of course, sir” without checking to see if he had any. He didn’t. I explained to this chap that Mr. Zonis wanted one and he promised to send me a recording and I intern told Mr. Zonis……………he never sent me one. I forgot about the whole thing. Mr. Zonis, however did not and when he saw me two years later, the first thing he did after slapping me hard on the back (his trademark greeting) was to say, at the age of 80 “Where’s my damn cello music?”
There will be many tributes that will be written over the next few days, scribed by writers far more talented than I. They will tell you about the many languages he spoke and many of his other attributes. I wonder though if they will talk about his love of jokes and how humor would always pay a part in every situation. He would always tell me jokes …………………here is my favorite Mr. Zonis joke.
A couple of Irish hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?”
The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.”
There is a silence, then a shot is heard.
The guy’s voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?“
Although ill health dogged his later years, the sheer scale of Mr. Zonis’ achievements remains undiminished. He was as gentle as he was fierce and his passion for Carnival Cruise Lines was legendary. Many years ago there was a problem with loading provisions and stores onto one of the Carnival ships in Miami. And so Mr. Zonis raced to the pier to sort the problem out. He drove onto the pier and parked right by the bow of the ship jumping out of the car, barking orders and taking care of business. However, his passion for getting this job done and the ship sailing onetime had outweighed his driving skills because he had left his Lincoln in drive. And so, as he stood on the pier being Mr. Zonis……………..his car…………………….slowly…………drove off the pier ………………and into the water…………….sinking to the bottom of the harbor.
Legend has it that Mr. Zonis, looked…………..watched it happen……………and as the last few bubbles broke the surface…………he turned around …………….and said to gathering crowd of workers………….”Come on, it’s only a car………..this is a cruise ship………. and people’s vacations are depending on us…….let’s get back to work”………and they did.
Today, a wife, two sons, grandchildren and family members will have hearts full of sadness and despair.
Today, the ship’s flags are flying at half mast as are the ones outside the corporate offices in Miami.
Today, many Carnival employees will be sitting quietly, reflecting on their own personal experiences and their own “Mr. Zonis” memories.
Today, many thousands of people who will be enjoying the Fun Ship experience will be doing so without a clue who Mr. Zonis was. Yet, the very foundations of their cruise were built by this man.
His legacy will never be forgotten……………as neither will the one nor only, the incomparable Mr. Zonis.
Filed under: Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Carnival Liberty
John, what a wonderful story about a wondeful man! our deepest sympathy to all of Carnival and to his wonderful family, may you all find comfort and peace in your wonderful memories of this “SPECIAL” man! “REST IN PEACE, MR. ZONIS”!!!!!!! Michele & Mom( Eleanor)
Rest in peace Mr. Zonis. You will be missed.
To one of the 343 Stephanie’s,
I sent a message to John a week ago on Oct. 27. It is still awaiting moderation. I am not sure if maybe it is lost in cyber space or in your capable hands. Just in case it is lost I will resend it now to you. If you have it, please ignore this message.
Thanks,
Wendy
Here is the lost message,
Dear John, (Please Respond)
It is getting close to our trip on the Carnival Valor. We ship out of Miami on Nov. 15! I’m sure you don’t remember but I asked you questions about tours about a month or so ago. I had surgery on my arm and wasn’t sure about the Sea Trek Helmet Dive. Discussed it with my doctor and he said if I feel alright to try it, so we have decided not to book tours on-line but to wait until we arrive and see how my arm is doing. Thanks for the information.
We have dinner reservations for the Steak House on Thursday night. That isn’t a formal night is it? I also read where you suggested to a gentleman (I believe on the same cruise we’re on) to give his wife a single rose at the steak house as a surprise, is there something you could suggest for me to give to my husband that evening? A rose is cool but can you think of something more guy like? He has been such a good guy taking care of me for the last four months he deserves something special from me to say thank you.
One last thing, you said you would try to help us get a table for two. If that is possible, I would be thankful. We have early sitting, room 9263 and name is Wendy McCarthy.
Thanks for all you do on your blog.
Wendy
OMG, John, your comments and tribute to this wonderful man brought tears to my eyes. My deepest sympathies to his family.
RIP, Mr. Zonis.
I never had the privilege of meeting Mr. Zonis. I have been a student of the history of Carnival, and I deeply feel that the line would not be the leader it is were it not for him.
He was a real force for many years in the cruise industry. He will be missed.
Doc
John,
Sorry to hear of the lost of a great man. To his family, colleagues and friends I send my deepest sympathies. I will pray for him and his family.
Wendy
Thank You Mr. Zonis, may you rest in peace.
I too lost a friend yesterday, good bye Rosa May. God is good, and may you both be in Gods care now, and your Families be comforted in knowing you are with Him now.
rest in peace Mr. Zonis
John,
I extend my condolences to his family and I will say a prayer tonight. I, like many, didn’t know who he was until today. Thanks for mentioning him to us! He was a great man to the company and he will be missed by many.
Regards,
Alex G.
I’m sorry to hear that, John. Mr. Zonis seems like a great man, indeed. My condolences to the many friends and family he left behind.
Laura
JOhn, what a wonderful man, our hearts go out to his family and carnival!
Frank and Bridie
i am very sorry to hear this. thanks for telling us and letting us know him a bit. deepest sympathy to his family, both at home and at carnival…
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
That was a beautiful. It is very obvious by your words, your respect and admiration of this gentleman. With our deepest sympathies to his wife, family and to the entire Carnival family.
God is waiting with open arms for this man who allowed some many people to enjoy life onboard Carnival ships.
Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends.
Cruising Grandma
CarolAnn
John -
A truly wonderful tribute to a fine man.
Jon
John, this was a very touching post of a remarkable man who I never met but seemed to be the main man who made my cruises on the Carnival ships. My condolences to his wife and family and to the entire Carnival family. He sounded much like my father, whose character had the ability to motivate, grip, frighten and amuse his men. They didn’t like my dad at times but they all said they respected him a great deal for what he did. I bet Mr. Zonis was probably felt the same way. Thank you John for including us as part of the family.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
What a wonderful tribute John to a wonderful man. How old was he? Where is the funeral? I know you are in Miami, but did Mr. Zonis live in Miami? I know you will be flying to N. Y. tomorrow Mike and I are looking forward to the Carnival Dream coming into Port Canaveral, on Dec. 18th we are going to a Sail-A-Bration at the Port, it is from 5:30-7:30pm, when the Dream comes to the Port for the day and we will get to see it sail away at 7:30pm. They are going to give away free commemorative items, Lite Rock 99.3 will be broadcasting Live, there will be a laser show, etc. at cruise terminal 4, and while there you can enter a drawing for a Carnival cruise in a penthouse suite for 4 people! WOW! Can’t wait! Wish you were gonna be there but according to your calendar for November you will be on the Imagination for a CD Conference! Your friends, Mike & Linda
John,
What a wonderful tribute. Thanks so much for sharing your memories of a great man with us.
Bobbi
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Zonis and also to his Carnival family who will miss him also
Carolyn and Don
Our condolences to his family (and the Carnival family )for their loss
He seemed to be a wonderful man
However I have to say
THE STORY OF HIS CAR ON THE PIER IS PRICELESS.
God Bless Mr. Zonis
The Tuckers
Elizabeth & Arnold
John,
Please respond to this question.
On the CruseCritic board, some are claiming, complaining that a couple of Carnival ships, (Triumph being one) have NO heating system built into the ship.
I cannot imagine a ship being built without any heat and would guess that it would violate some SOLAS rule.
What say you?
Thanx
Dan
Godspeed
Mr. Zonis
next Port-O-Call-Heaven !
John:
What a remarkable insight to a man who has done so much for us and yet, we never knew him.
May the wonderful memories of his life envelope his family and friends and give them comfort during this time.
Linda (Mom of DJ)
Dear Mr. Zonis,
Thanks and to your family may God’s blessings be with them.
The Cruzin2some
Dear John,
I know this was a personal friend of your so my heart goes out to you for your loss as well.
James & Nancy Enslow
Dear Carnival Cruise Line:
My deepest sympathy on the loss of your Mr. Zonis.
I did not know the man, but, his devotion to your cruise line has made it the success it is.
Marie Wolff