Messrs. CLARKE and DECESARE reported around on time with the Swabo'd wedding photos, but PUBA and the SLY ONE are still missing in action.  While we continue to wait for our classmates, the Court will come to order!

 

Good news...another Classmate has reported around.  DAVE WALLACE checks in with the following: "Another wayward classmate checking in.  I've followed the class website for several months but just haven't gotten off my butt to say hello until now (no excuse, sir). My wife JUNE and I are still in Maryland following my retirement from HQ in 1991.  I worked with BILL INMON in his homegrown real estate company in Annapolis for the first few years and had the pleasure of assisting several CG families at various times, but ultimately found that sales was not my forte.  For the last couple of years, I've worked for the local county police dept in a civilian position.  Like some others, our kids have grown up and moved out to distant locations - our son Jeff recently married and lives with his wife Alicia in Orlando, FL, and our daughter Sara married last fall and lives with her husband David in Tacoma, WA.  At the moment JUNE and I are also preparing to move on - this fall we plan to demolish an old lakefront cottage we own in southwest New Hampshire and have a year-round home built in its place, with the intention of relocating to the woods there sometime next year.  We see and talk to BILL INMON and his wife LIZ frequently. And we joined JON & JAN WALDRON along with DAN & ANN KALLETTA last spring for dinner at the WALDRONS' new home in Virginia (the occasion celebrated JON's recent descent into the twilight of his life - if anyone cares, KID KALLETTA only recently turned 49).   I've also followed yours and CHUCK BECK's reporting on the Class Fund, etc and think supporting the hockey team and/or other athletic programs is worthwhile (so my check's in the mail, CHUCK, really!)."  I've already tasked DAVE with getting an E-mail address and family update from BILL. CHUCK...check still in the mail?

 

TOMMY & SUSI CLARKE sent in a great photo showing proud Mom and Dad, beautiful daughter Wendy, and new son-in-law Andy Pfrenger.  After a perfect Greenville, SC wedding and honeymoon at an undisclosed location, Wendy & Andy are off on the adventure of a lifetime.  They are currently in Vladivostok, beginning a two year Peace Corps assignment teaching secondary English.  They will be in Vladivostok for about three months for training, staying with a host family. Sometime during the training they will find out where their teaching assignment will be (which little village or town or ?).  Although very proud, TOMMY & SUSI are just a tad nervous about them being so far away.  They'll keep us posted!

MARY JANE & I had a great visit with CHARLIE & GEORGEANNE WURSTER and PHIL & ANN VOLK in conjunction with USCGC ACTIVE's Change of Command.  CHARLIE officiated in his PACAREA Chief of Staff role. Told a few sea stories at dinner the night before the CofC and then enjoyed coffee and the quarter tour at Casa de Volk, PHIL & ANN's new home overlooking the Straits of Juan de Fuca.  Beautiful home, magnificent view, and wonderful hosts...everyone should make it a must stop on your next Pacific Northwest vacation.  In fact, such a great time, why don't you change your current plans and come for a visit?

 

TOM MAWHINNEY reported on an outstanding achievement by his high school...remember, he's the Principal!  "Every year, Rhinebeck High School competes in a blood donor drive with high schools in five counties surrounding New York City.  We have won the competition three years running in the category of donations per size of the senior class."  TOM continues that they won again this year and he had the opportunity to go on Yankee field for the award presentation with his daughter who graduated from his high school the end of June.  He adds, "Both my children are gone from my high school, which means I can go about my business without teachers coming up to me to remind me that homework wasn't done or a test was failed miserably.  I am sure it was harder on the kids than on me." Kate is going to Marist -- the school is approximately 25 minutes from Rhinebeck.

 

Congratulations!  Someone finally ordered three books from Amazon.com using the link from our Class Page...and we made $3.93 for the Academy. We need just a few more purchases to get that 5% figure to over $100.00 before we actually see a check...not too early to start thinking about Christmas gifts!  Anyone reading these Class Notes is invited...encouraged to link from '71's Class Page and place an order.

 

DOUG KROLL has passed his written and oral exams and advanced to a Ph.D. candidate at the Claremont Graduate University (CGU)!  DOUG writes, "All I have left to do is complete my dissertation, which is a biography of Commodore Bertholf, the first commandant of the Coast Guard.  Part of my research back east this past spring included a visit to the Coast Guard Yard where there is a street named for Bertholf.  While there, I had lunch with AL GRACEWSKI, who also gave me the "grand tour" of his domain.  I was just advised that I was selected to receive the Rear Admiral John D. Hayes Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in U. S. Naval History. Needless to say I am pleased to have been selected." Here's the press release on DOUG's Fellowship: "The 1999-2000 Rear Admiral John D. Hayes Predoctoral Fellowship in Naval History of $8000 was awarded to C. DOUGLAS KROLL, a Ph. D. candidate in the history program at Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California.  Mr. KROLL is preparing a doctoral dissertation entitled 'The Life and Career of Commodore Ellsworth Bertholf:  The First Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.'  Mr. KROLL is studying Bertholf's influence on the creation of the Coast Guard in 1915 and its evolution from the Revenue Cutter Service, which he also headed as the last Commandant.  He also intends to investigate Bertholf's interaction with Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and other leaders of the U.S. Navy during World War I, when the Navy Department exercised operational control of the Coast Guard." Hellova honor DOUG...BRAVO ZULU!

 

BOB OJA sent in a nice letter reporting that he reached a successful settlement with the Corps of Engineers in late March and qualified for a form of early retirement.  He and SUE have their house on the market and are moving to Eugene, OR as soon as it sells.  BOB continues, "Andrew has already moved there and is staying with his sister Julie; she transferred to U of O last September.  He wanted to start the weight training program with the football team at his new high school.  With the temperature differences, Andrew also wanted to acclimate before actual practice begins next month.  If things go well, SUE and I will drive down the Alcan, which ought to be a great trip.  On the other hand, if our house doesn't sell by August 15, SUE will move ahead of me to find a place before school starts.  In any event, I'll pass along our new address as soon as we have one."  BOB should drive through Seattle...hopefully a report on a visit to Casa de Swedberg in our next edition.

 

Might have more visitors in September.  RADM RON SILVA reports that he and BEV are taking a Seattle junket to relocate their second son to the area.  RON ads, "I take over the Commandant (G-S) job Wednesday 4 Aug.  Great Coast Guard Day, I will be visiting AL GRACEWSKI at the CG Yard for familiarization."  RON's also got a new E-mail address...check out our Classmates link.

 

Another great wedding photo!  STEVE & BETTY ANN DECESARE sent in a photo with son Stephen Jr. and new daughter-in-law Joanna.  Must be purely coincidence that they're smiling as much as TOMMY & SUSI. Stephen and Joanna were married June 5th at the First Baptist Church in Hyannis, the same church where STEVE & BETTY ANN exchanged vows 28 years ago!  Steve Jr. is majoring in history at UMass in Boston and Joanna is a certified Nanny.  STEVE also promises a Seattle vacation before the end of the year...use it or lose it leave days!

Finally, a little Class Correspondent prerogative.  MARY JANE & I had a special night June 16th...our son Kurt graduated from Issaquah High School.  Many of you aren't aware that Kurt has cerebral palsy and has significant physical and developmental disabilities. Actually Kurt didn't officially graduate, but enters the Special Education transition program for the next 2 years.  The school system will continue to work with him on life skills training and help us find a productive, meaningful future for him.  Back to the graduation...the student body asked their custodian, Steve Birdsall, to be the guest speaker.  Steve graduated from Issaquah in '68 and is obviously very well liked and respected by the kids.  Friend, mentor, counselor, ass kicker...all of the above.  Steve offered some great remarks (wearing a very bright Hawaiian shirt!) and then talked about what a great bunch of kids the 250+ graduates were and that he couldn't name everyone, but did want to mention one special graduate.  "Kurt Swedberg, will you stand up!"  He then told how he'd first met Kurt during our last tour in Seattle when Kurt was in elementary school and got around with a walker.  Steve talked about how hard Kurt worked, his great personality and attitude, how he now walked independently or used just a forearm crutch, how Kurt always did his best using his abilities to their fullest, and concluded with..."Kurt - you're my hero!"  Sustained applause from his classmates and the packed bleachers of parents, relatives, and friends...and tears in Mom and Dad's eyes.

BOB and JIM...not too late for those wedding pictures.  DAVE...don't forget to get BILL's E-mail address and mail that check to CHUCK. And yes...he's my hero too!  We're adjourned.