A black and white photograph of two men standing by a body of water. The men are both wearing dark suits and hats. In between the men is a life float which reads, "Presidente Wilson/ Trieste." The two men are standing along the banister of the boat.

Photographs donated by Mae Counelis from her mother, Koula Lazou Counelis' estate.

Mae H. Counelis,of Berwyn, IL, was born Feb. 10, 1931 to the late Koula and Anthony Counelis. She was raised in Chicago Heights, IL, and graduated from Bloom High School. Mae received a bachelor of science degree from George Washington University, Washington, DC. She worked in the research department of the U of I, Chicago. Later, she worked in cancer research at Schering Corp. in NJ where she developed a patent for helping to cure cervical cancer.

The Presidente Wilson was the name of an Immigrant boat which came from Trieste. The background of the boat: built by Cantieri Navali Triestino, Monfalcone, Italy, 1912. 12567 gross tons; 477 (bp) feet long; 60 feet wide. Steam quadruple expansion engines, twin screw. Service speed 18 knots. 1905 passengers ( 125 first class, 550 second class, 1230 third class ).

Built for Austro-Americana Line, Austrian flag, in 1912 and named Kaiser Franz Josef I. Trieste-South America and later Trieste-New York service. Laid up at Trieste 1914-19. Sold to Cosulich Line, Italian flag, in 1919 and renamed Presidente Wilson. Mediterranean-New York service. Transferred to Lloyd Triestino, Italian flag, in 1930 and renamed Gange. Trieste-Far East service. Transferred to Adriatica Line, Italian flag, in 1936 and renamed Marco Polo. Venice-Alexandria service. Laid up 1940-43. Scuttled by Germans in 1944. Refloated in 1949; scrapped in 1950

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