Travis Harrison Cresswell

TRURO - Travis Harrison Cresswell, passed away suddenly in the early morning hours of March 27, 2007, while on holiday in England, after recently returning from his eleventh austral summer in Antarctica.

He left this world peacefully, surrounded by friends, and in the arms of his wife, Harriet Hobbs Cresswell. Travis is also survived by his dear brother, Warren S. Cresswell, of New York City. His father, Warren S. Cresswell, predeceased him in 1984, and his mother, Gloria H. Cresswell, predeceased him in 1994.

Travis was born in New York and grew up in Monson, Mass., where he graduated from Monson Academy. Travis' life was full of joy, love, and true adventure. Widely traveled, he leaves behind countless friends all over the world. During the austral summers, he was employed as an Expedition Team Member in Antarctica, first aboard the cruise liner, M.V. Marco Polo, and later aboard the cruise liner, M.V. Discovery.

An accomplished soccer player, sailor, scuba diver, equestrian, and downhill skier, Travis was a fully-certified Canadian and American ski instructor, and a former assistant director of the Mount Tremblant Ski School in Canada. Besides his years at Mount Tremblant, Travis also spent many winters teaching skiing at Mount Snow in Vermont, Park City in Utah, and Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Travis started summering in Provincetown in 1960, where, by day, he was one of the early commercial scuba divers who dove for lobsters in the waters off Cape Cod. At night, he first worked for Mylan Costa at the Moors Restaurant, and later was a bartender at the Atlantic House, Front Street, and Gruber's Restaurant.

Travis loved the sea and enjoyed many blue water sailing adventures aboard his sailboat the ''Sargasso.” He was often engaged to captain other sailboats for long-distance ocean cruising.

For the last 19 years, he was self-employed as a builder and real-estate developer, doing business as Blue Water Building. Travis also partnered with his brother Warren, a former vice president of Christie's Auction House, in various fine art investments.

Travis' dogs, Georgiana and Fredericka; his cats, Winston, Edwina and Astor; and his horse, Kadence, will all miss him greatly. His wife, Harriet, and brother Warren are heartbroken.

A private graveside service was held in South Truro on Monday, April 2, 2007. A celebration of his life will be held on his birthday in August.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ''Antarctic Heritage Ltd”, c/o Rachael Morgan, Secretary, United Kingdom Heritage Trust, Kingcoed Farm, Usk NP15 1DS, United Kingdom.