Pierette Domenica Simpson

About Pierette Domenica Simpson

Pierette Domenica SImpson Biography

In 1956, Piera Domenica Burzio and her grandparents left their village of Pranzalito, near Torino in Italy, to begin a new life in America. They made their journey on the last voyage of the Andrea Doria. Pierette and her grandparents survived the collision, when the Swedish liner Stockholm rammed the Italian luxury liner.

The family settled in Detroit, Michigan, where Pierette earned a teaching certificate in French, Spanish, and Social Studies at Wayne State University. She continued her education by doing graduate work in Paris and Angers, France. She taught high school French and Spanish and was inducted into the Farmington Teachers’ Hall of Fame. Pierette now teaches French part-time in a private school near Detroit.

Pierette plays the violin and has performed with several local symphony orchestras and chamber groups. She also has traveled extensively to foreign lands, with an annual trek to Italy, where half of her family resides.

“[Writing the book] has brought me to the heights of ethnic pride. The main reason is that my book corrects a historical injustice against my people. So, I’m proud . . . because I now know that we Italians participated in the greatest sea rescue with courage and competence.”