You should be enjoying the
beginnings of summer as you read this ... which means some of those weddings
are getting closer and the photos should be submitted soon. MARY and
TOPPER pay attention to the last! While we wait on our Classmates, the
Court will come to order.
I stopped and visited with AL DUJENSKI yesterday (4/21), just two weeks after
his bypass surgery. He looked great and according to GLENNA was following
his post surgery regime...although she’s got to keep an eye on him from
pushing himself too hard too fast. AL provided his own update:
“Well, I was surprised by all the emails and cards regarding my surgery
Without getting to sentimental is was a nice feeling inside to receive them.
Being much of a recluse from class activities I suppose I should feel a
little sheepish (baaah, baaah). So to all of you a heartfelt thanks. Let
me pass along a summary of activities for past 30 years. On my way to the first
assignment (WACHUSSETT in Seattle) I stopped by to visit MIKE and CHRISTY CONWAY
and ended up marrying her sister, GLENNA, about a year later. My shipboard
engineering days turned to shore side assignments in the M-field. At the
halfway point I was tempted by outside influences and went to work for George
Bush's off shore drilling company as their Marine supt. About that time
the bottom dropped out of the offshore drilling industry and was soon looking
for a new job. I was surprised that the M-folks still had their arms open
and welcoming me back into the fold after this "industry sabbatical."
I got some field training in inspections and ended up in Seattle and
involved in fishing industry safety. In 1993 I left the Coast Guard and that is
when the health issues unfolded. Not sure if it was Coast Guard spawned
or not but becoming a Type I diabetic and heart failures started months after
retirement. GLENNA and I have a son and a daughter that were reared in
Coast Guard surroundings but never chose to go into that field (must have
raised them right--smile). GLENNA has always been involved in teaching young
children and handicapped kids which explains why she has been able to put up
with me for over 31 years. Anyway, after retirement I went to work for a
major insurance brokerage as a maritime safety consultant where I am still employed
here in Seattle. I pursued a few hobbies: Amateur Radio (KB7MBI) and
competing in the professional competition BBQ circuit (Kansas City BBQ rules).
A few times a year we will put on a Texas style BBQ and invite 50-60
folks over for pulled pork, brisket, chicken and baby back ribs. Guess I
will need to expand the invite list for the next one (smile). We live in
a small log cabin about 30 miles NE of Seattle in the foothills and always have
a pot of locally roasted coffee brewing or some micro brews cooling. I
hope many of you get the opportunity to drop in. We will be glad to slap
on a few steaks and hoist a few brews. Best wishes to you all and it has
been great hearing about your activities. I have been proud seeing how
well you all did in the CG family.” AL’s being a little
modest as to his BBQ prowess. His Bulldog Chile was Washington State
Champ in ‘95 and this past June at Wildfire Ranch in Issaquah was
AL’s National BBQ breakthrough competition, where he placed in all four
categories, including first in lamb sirloin and pork ribs. The story
behind his BBQ nickname BULLDOG will be reserved for a future update!
AL’s heading up an exclusive club. BRAD TROTH provides this update
as the other member, having had his bypass in May of ‘98: “Kodiak
is still Kodiak, no stoplights, no crowds, and no snow. Been with the law
firm (Jamin, Ebell, Schmitt & Mason ) for 3 years now. Love the job. No
stress, everyone runs around in T-shirts and stocking feet. Need to
install a phone booth so they have a place to put on their suits when they go
to court. The Senior Partner was one of the head litigators for the class
action suit against Exxon so if that ever pays off everyone will retire and I
will be out of a job. Depending on bonuses that may not be all bad.
Still have my own part time accounting business, do guiding for hunting
and fishing and play a lot of golf. Be chasing Mr. Brown next week.
Only one child, Jennifer, who met Mr. Wonderful last year, collected some
nice jewelry, and stuck Dad with the bill for the big party in October.
Lives in Minneapolis. Always said I wanted to live in the same time
zone as the grandchildren, but MINN? She should have picked Arizona which
was my choice.” BRAD, no charge for the firm promo!
Wouldn’t be the Class Notes with an episode of “Where in the World
is Jay?” “Greetings to all from sunny Bogota. This city
is in the mountains at about 8000 feet and has nice temperatures. I had
planned a trip to Colombia for a long time but wanted a good briefing before coming
here to avoid being one of the over 3000 kidnap victims/year. A friend of
mine in the U.S. Army is assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota which provided
an excellent window of opportunity to explore a small part of Colombia. I
arrived in Bogota, received a good briefing from the U.S. Embassy, and then
flew to the pleasant, peaceful city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast.
I stayed in a hotel inside the old walled city. Many very nice
original colonial Spanish homes, businesses, and churches still exist inside
the old walled city. The historically impenetrable fort of San Felipe is a
short distance outside the city walls along with La Popa which is a monastery
maintained by Augustinians on the highest hill in the area. The political
situation in Cartagena reminds me of Vung Tau, Vietnam during the war.
The bad guys are there along with the good guys, but the place is so nice
for R & R that everyone desires to leave the conflict behind when visiting
the area. Security was heavy during my visit since the President of
Colombia was in Cartagena for the weekend. There is another side of
Cartagena that most visitors are completely unaware of. First, I'll
provide some background info to more completely describe the situation.
Guerrilla groups, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), control 65-70% of Colombia,
primarily in the rural areas. Gringos can't even think about traveling
from one city to another in a bus unless kidnapping is not a concern. The
peasants in the countryside are caught in the middle of FARC, ELN, and
paramilitary groups (not sponsored by the government) who ruthlessly and
indiscriminately kill suspected members of FARC and ELN. When the
peasants can no longer feed all of their children, they send some or all of
them on a bus to a city such as Cartagena. The children are then on their
own. Local orphanages are overwhelmed by the numbers of incoming orphans
and many orphans can be seen in the early morning hours sleeping on top of
cardboard in doorways of local businesses. Some have resorted to sniffing
glue. They can easily be recognized by their long sleeve shirts worn
during the hot daytime temperatures. Glue is placed on the cuff to be
sniffed when the desire to do so arises. These kids look like absolute
zombies. The situation is very, very sad. After Cartagena, I
returned to Bogota. On a Sunday afternoon I took a bus to the base of
Mont Serrate where I ascended the mountain on foot to the church at the peak. It
was quite a steep hike starting at an altitude of about 8000 feet so it took
quite a while. The walk is a pilgrimage for many and I was amazed at how
many folks carried their small children to the peak. There are
outstanding views of Bogota all along the well constructed path. I met a
mother, daughter and niece along the path and we walked together the last part
of the way up. The energetic 11 year old niece, Gabriela, was
particularly agile running much of the time and returning to help her aunt. She
lives about an hour from Bogota in a small village. Every morning she arises at
5 AM, goes to school, and then helps her mother in the family store until 7 at
night. Conversing with this well adjusted, small child was like
conversing with an adult. Perhaps our kids in the USA need more time
working in the family store instead of watching TV. The next day I walked
for miles in the north of the city near the base of surrounding hills. I
passed by the club at Carrera 7, Calle 79 which was bombed a few weeks ago.
Thirty-six folks, including some children, lost their lives after about
450 pounds of explosives ignited on the second floor. A huge tarp with
the colors of the Colombian flag covers much of the front of the building.
The Colombian people have been very friendly and helpful with advice
concerning security. All whom I have met are happy with the President's
strong position countering terrorism. They would like to see the country
return to a reasonable level of sanity. Hasta mas tarde.”
In the April Notes, KELLY CALLISON forwarded a short update from BRUCE
SCHOOLING. BRUCE fills in a few more details: “Where to
begin… Joined the Alumni Association and made a small donation. I
really believe you should give back. While I was at the Academy a very
short time and spent a large portion of that little time in the hospital
– it has had a profound effect and shaped my life in many ways. I
have been reluctant to “come around” because my time was so short
– thanks for making it easy to reattach to my past. The story:
short version goes something like this. After being discharged I came
back to CA and kicked around doing odd jobs and feeling sorry for myself and
drinking too much. Eventually I had the good fortune to meet my better
half, LINDA, and we were married 6 months later. I gave my heart and life
to Christ a couple of years later and we moved to CO where I completed Bible
College. It was a long way from going to Catholic Chapel early to
pastoring my own church. I can imagine BO reading this and dying of
shock. I continued to go to school as I had the chance and ultimately
finished a BS in Org. Behavior and Master of Nonprofit Administration degrees
at University of San Francisco. We were in our 20th year of ministry and
our 3rd church. Resigned and went to New Mexico State University and finished a
Ph.D. in Management in 1998. I was invited to join the faculty at our
denominational liberal arts university in San Diego and am about to complete my
5th year here. I’ve created and am the Director of the MBA program
and will be the department chair in the fall. Two years ago I turned
around in church and introduced myself to Harvey and Janet Johnson (’75)
and he in turn connected me to KELLY. In the midst of a very hectic life
(who doesn’t live one?) I felt like mine had come full circle. We
attended Harvey’s Change of Command and now have lost track of them.
Life is very good. I have been blessed with a wonderful 31 year
marriage (LINDA would say 30 of them were happy) a couple of great daughters,
Amy (26) and Sara (24). Amy (PLNU ‘00) is mortgage loan office in
Ohio and Sara (PLNU ‘02) is a basketball coach in San Diego (made the
playoffs her first two years of coaching). I love what I do – being
around young adults keeps us young. I get to read and write, ride my
motorcycle around the country, play a little basketball, and work at the most
beautiful campus in the world. We are on the Point, last acreage before
the Navy base on the Pacific side. I’ve checked out our Class site and
recognized a bunch of names and look forward to reestablishing contact –
some are a little vague (it’s what happens when you’re only around
a very short time) – and others I don’t think I ever knew nor they
me – yet I feel a connection to all and wish the very best for everyone.
Thanks again for calling “SWABO!” and expecting those, like
me, who have gone before to “report around.”
Got a short note from BILL WILLIS after he got his E-birthday card requesting
an update: “Thanks for the card, but really -- at our age -- you really
shouldn't have. To earn complete forgiveness, however, you may feel free
to ship one or more cases of beer (more beer earns more forgiveness!) to my
Alumni Bulletin address. There is no news to share from the Willises.
Life continues ever onward. Fatter than ever, but heath is good.
Three kids are good. Horses are good. Wife seems to be happy.
Only one minor downer: Job is getting old. Really long for a
rotational tour. (Do you know of any available?)” Job...me? Anyone
else know of an opportunity for career improvement for BILL?
E-cards seem to be working ... LARRY HOWELL also sent a short update:
“How did you know I'm spending my birthday alone? CATHY's dad is
not well and CATHY went to be with him for his Doctor's appointment in Indiana.
Would like to update you but I live a rather dull existence. The
most excitement I have had recently was my daughter's wedding last fall.
That was an emotional event. The excitement came after the wedding
as CATHY and I baby sat our two new granddaughters, five and four years of age.
Now I
know why God doesn't give children to us older folks!” LARRY, while
you’re recovering from the new grandbaby sitting duties, where’s
their photo with Grandma & Grandpa?
BERT KINGHORN forwarded the great photo of a dinner hosted by THAD and PAM.
PHIL VOLK was in town during one of his periodic DC pilgrimages and
THADMIRAL had PHIL, AL, RICH, CHARLIE, & BERT and their much better halves
over for a terrific evening sharing sea stories. BERT said “You'd
have a photo of the wives, too, but then someone would note that they were
prettier and then we'd feel bad!” BERT, but now we feel bad that we got
you guys instead of the wives!
I was checking out some E-mail glitches and sent a test note to SUTTER.
His response from South California: “Sorry I didn't get your email.
AOL is filtering all info from lawyers, not @attbi. Wasn't attbi on
the Andy Griffith Show? I got a million of them. Finally got around
to ordering DOUG KROLL’s book from the Naval Institute. He's
promised to sign it for me, but I made him promise to take me to lunch in
return. He's moved out to Palm Springs area so I'll check up on him when
I'm next out at my desert mansion. Hope all's well up north and you're
not too sunshine challenged. Another beautiful day in the southland with
temps in the 70s and the mountains in view. I was down in San Diego last
month while BONNIE was in a seminar. I had a great day touring around and
drove
out to Point Loma for the first time in many years. Had forgotten what a
spectacular view is seen from there.”
CHUCK BECK follows up with a report on the dinner scheduled for the end of
February: “The BECKs, VOLKs, BARRETTs, VANNs, LEONEs and SYLVESTERs did
indeed get together for a dinner at Cavey's in Manchester, CT. The SLYs
and LEONEs made a weekend of it staying near and partaking in the recreational
activities of Foxwoods (one of the two resort casinos in CT). A good time
had by all. PEG SYLVESTER took the pictures. The weekend of 15
March, the UCONN women's ice hockey season came to an end. They lost in
the first round of the inaugural Hockey East tournament 7-0 to Providence in
the semi. (Providence was the eventual champion.) The LEONEs and PLOSZAJs
met me and CHERYL to watch the game (held at Northeastern's Matthews Arena in
Boston). The six of us then went to dinner at the Warren Tavern which is but a
few yards from FAITH and STEVE’s home in Charlestown. Once again a good
time had by all. PHIL and I met last Thursday evening at New London to hear the
Chief of Staff of the CG speak to the Corps of Cadets at an Operation Spotlight
function. I wanted to ask a question of the speaker, but PHIL wouldn't
let me. I wanted to ask if his cadet cruise experience prepared him
properly for his career. Of course only the three of us would have
understood the hidden meaning (i.e. the Amsterdam caper). We then joined
THADMIRAL ALLEN and some of the CGA senior staff for a light repast at
Hughie's. Yet once again, a good time had by all.” Wonder
what the answer would have been?
Did CHUCK say PEG took pictures? He sure did, and she came through with a
great group shot...12 people around a table and she (or her agent) got
everyone’s face in the shot! Well Done PEG ... and you were even in
the shot! JIM provided an accounting on the success at Foxwoods:
“With regards to the weekend at the casinos, the LEONEs and SYLVESTERs
"milked" a couple of slot machines ie we put in $10 each and came out
ahead as a Team. I played “Let It Ride" on Sunday after
attending 9 am Mass at the Academy (no more mandatory Church services) and
having a donut in the basement. Won $185 in 30 minutes so it was a
"plus" weekend.”
BARNEY, I think you should appeal to the Supreme Court. “Shock of
shocks: I LOST in my run for election as Benton Town Clerk! Fortunately,
I got over it real quick.” But it took a heavy toll...take a look
at the WMHB radio "gang" at <http://www.colby.edu/wmhb/pic/cmj-2003/stationprofile.jpg>.
Who’s that older gentleman on the top right?
DAN SHOTWELL’s also having some health problems: “I too have a
health problem, though minor compared to AL's. Last week a specialist
told me I have a very long one, one of the longest he's seen. I hadn't heard
that before and was somewhat flattered until I realized he was talking about my
uvula. (My hangy-twangy ball at the back of my throat.) It
has given me some chronic problems by becoming swollen and distended to the
point that it was trying to choke me and I was trying to swallow it. So
next Monday I go to the Cleveland Clinic for a uvulaplasty. We're just
going to cut the darn thing off, with the possible added benefit that it may
reduce my snoring, which should make MIDGE happy. Life without a
uvula.... I'll let you know.” DAN, don’t send pictures!
Responding to the news of AL’s surgery, JIM ARMSTRONG provided a quick
update: “Talk about boondoggles, Carl you should be too ashamed to ride a
cruise liner into the ice and expect to be paid! I am still trying to
figure out how you got sent back to Seattle. Lots has been happening here
in south Florida, but I am not going to talk about my health. In my case
my health "stories" involve my stern end, not the engine room or
hull. As you know I got married late (at 32), so my oldest son is just 18
and starts college, the University of Central Florida, in September.
After my second son, we decided JANINE would run the household and I
would be the wage earner. No regrets after 21 years, but paying for
college, even with scholarships, will strain us, that is why I am biting the
bullet now, because it will not get easier. Neither of my boys were interested
in one of the academies. Scott, 18, intends to major in biology (his
mother was a science teacher, so you know who has influence in our house). Dan,
my 14 year-old, is interested in music and has played the double bass since he
was 8 years-old (his choice). Since I don't have a musical bone in my
body, I sometimes wonder if Dan strongly resembles the music teacher at the
last school JANINE taught at! I don't see SKIP or BOB CAMMUCIO as much as
I should, but will have to use this as an excuse to give them a call.”
JIM, make that call, but no pictures from you either!
PETE TEBEAU was passing through Seattle to an oil spill conference in Vancouver
and spent a night in our North Wing Guest Suite. “It hardly seems
like a week ago I was in Seattle. Once again, many thanks for the hospitality
at Casa de Swedberg. Please add me to the list of folks seeking formal
adoption. It was great to see both of you again and meet your son Kurt.
He is a great kid and I'm very impressed by the love and commitment shown
by you in helping him become the fine young man he is. Having been
through similar circumstances with my late wife and kids, I can appreciate what
it takes. Best of luck in your upcoming Antarctic adventure and please
know that you have an open invitation at Casa de Acid wherever that may be at
the moment (Connecticut, Georgia and anywhere in between).”
PETE’s son Michael is in the Army and Pete was concerned about his
potential deployment to Iraq. He added a postscript: “I was finally
able to track down my son Michael. It turns out he is still in Fort
Carson, Colorado and it looks like he will probably sit this one out. I'll
rest easier in the weeks to come.”
Guess who’s living in Lyme? DON GERBER finally reports around:
“As you can tell by the address, I have not made it very far.
CARLEEN and I moved to Lyme from Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1976 (Old Lyme
had too many traffic lights, Lyme still has none). In 1986, we moved
again, about two miles south (still within Lyme) to the village of Hamburg. Since
departing the Coast Guard in 1982, I have spent my working life generating
electricity. Yup, I sit at my desk stuffing electrons into the wires so
that all of you can have lights when you flip a switch in your home.
Other interests include support of summer camps for minority children,
Habitat for Humanity (most recently in Durban, South Africa), Nature
Conservancy and other local conservation organizations, and participation on
local land use boards. During the fall of 1976, shortly after our return
to Lyme, CARLEEN accepted a temporary position as organist at the First
Congregational Church in Old Lyme. This position has evolved to include the
additional responsibilities of Choir Director and Associate Minister.
CARLEEN was ordained following completion of Divinity School (University
of South Africa). CARLEEN shares my interests in children's summer camps
and Habitat for Humanity projects. Her most recent project involved
bringing a 60 member choir from Johannesburg, South Africa to the US.
Proceeds from the concert series is supporting orphaned South African
children with HIV. Lauren, our oldest daughter (29), moved to New Zealand for 5
years following graduation from UCONN. She completed a post-graduate
degree in Human Resources while in NZ. (New Zealand is a great vacation spot,
particularly if you like the outdoors.) Lauren, her husband Peter,
daughter Kate (2 1/2), and son Sam (1 month) currently live Lyme. Being a
grandfather is great. However, the concept of being married to a grandmother is
a bit of a struggle. Allison, our middle daughter (27), attended SUNY
Binghamton and taught in Boston while completing a masters degree in education
at UMASS. Allison currently teaches third grade in Old Saybrook, CT and
lives with her husband, Jack, in Old Lyme. Emily, our youngest daughter
(22) will be graduating from Mary Washington College next month. After
spending her third summer working at "The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp"
(a Paul Newman sponsored camp for terminally ill children), she plans to travel
around the world for a few months before settling down to the drudgery of a
working life. Tell me the purpose of the Class Fund - I have lost track
of it.”
DON, what a great straight line and segue to the note from KELLY! “We
know you have had your checkbooks at the ready since Pat and my last e-mail.
You have been waiting for additional information about how to give (or
increasing what you are giving) to the 1971 class fund! To help you out we are
forwarding the link to the Alumni Association home page. Its got some
information on it about donations and if they get their "Donate or
Renew" link fixed you can do things electronically: http://www.uscgaaa.onlinecommunity.com/.
Those of you wanting to make allotment changes can go to this page for
help: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/hrsic/RAS.htm#Directory.
Designate the 1971 Class Fund by contacting John Maxham at (860) 701-6771
or via e-mail at jmaxham@ctol.net.
Hey we are here to Serve or bug as the case may be!”
DON’s reporting around was another addition to our on-line Classmate
registry, but we’re still missing a number of Classmates. And
a couple that had been on-line are currently MIA...CARL SCHRAMM and T. R.
WILSON where are you? If you know any new E-mail addresses, or
particularly if you're changing your own ISP, let me know so I can keep our
on-line roster current. Waiting on our Classmates...DON, how ‘bout a
photo from Emily’s graduation...we're adjourned!