It All Started with a Whale.
In August 2023, Patricia and Alan encountered Pinball—a mother humpback whale entangled in fishing rope off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Their quick action and call to the Center for Coastal Studies helped save her, and the moment was captured in a report by GBH News, which broke the story (and GBH’s reposting of Alan dramatic Youtube video immediately garnered 75K views).
That unforgettable day sparked Dimples the Whale™—a mission to inspire children and empower families to protect our ocean and it’s creatures from growing threats.
Since then, the rescue story has made waves—covered by The Boston Globe, Miami Herald, CBS News (Boston), Boston 25 News,WCVB, Cape Cod Times,Yahoo News, Environment America and more. But it all began with a small boat, an entangled whale, and a team effort with lots of big caring hearts.
From left to right: Emily Kelly, Paulette Durazo and Bob Lynch work to disentangle the humpback whale Pinball on Aug. 12, 2023.
Center for Coastal Studies, under NOAA NMFS permit #24359
“It was very emotional. We held hands, knowing it wasn’t just one whale—it was a mother and her calf. Two lives we helped save.”
“They [Patricia and Alan] called immediately once they realized something was wrong. And had they not done that … we wouldn’t have been able to [free and] do what we did for Pinball.”
“That summer day, we didn’t just help facilitate a whale and her calf being saved—the ocean cried out for help, and touched us deep in our core. From that moment, I’ve been compelled to answer its call.”