Norman Keith "Sailor Jerry" Collins

Norman Keith Sailor Jerry Collins (1911-1973) Collins, best known as Sailor Jerry, was born in 1911. By the 1920s he was sailing the Great Lakes, traveling the United States and tattooing on the side. Although Jerry was world famous for his tattooing, he had other interests. But, the sea was always a part of his life. For instance, in the 1950s, he was captain on a tour ship that visited the Pearl Harbor memorial. His study of electronics led to a first class FCC license, and for several years he hosted a late night talk show on a local radio station. On that show he was known as "Old Ironsides," another reflection on his interest in the sea. For a workingman's tattoo shop in an era where acetate stencils were king, Jerry would make rubs from his new designs and mail them out to his friends. This was a popular way for an artist to exchange designs. Sailor Jerry died June 12, 1973 and is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. This cemetery is located in the crater of an extinct volcano.