The Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Miami Seaquarium will celebrate his 60th birthday by performing with his beloved killer whale.
Eric Eimstad started his career at the seaquarium in 1976 as a show assistant, where he scrubbed tanks, cleaned cages and prepared fish for sea lions. Despite the grunt work, Eimstad aspired to one day work directly with whales. On June 20, 1976 he was promoted as a whale trainer and his dream was accomplished.
Eimstad worked daily with killer whale Lolita for eight years. Once Eimstad began climbing the work ladder up to his present position of vice president, he maintained a close relationship with the whale.
Thursday marks the 35th anniversary of the relationship between Eimstad and Lolita. He plans to gear up and take the trainer's whistle once again and perform with Lolita at noon for the first time in 10 years.
