News From Fort Schuyler

August 27, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 38

FORMER PROFESSOR DIES - News of the sudden death, on August 19, of popular, long-time mathematics teacher Dr. Leonard (Chuck) Gambler has been received. Chuck taught at Maritime from 1970 -1982. As Dr. Levy, Chair of the Science Department, noted in his announcement: " He was a positive influence on students and faculty alike." Condolences may be sent to his widow, Elizabeth Gambler, at Garvey Hill, North Field VT 10563.

PRETTY NEW BABY NEWS - Word comes that HUGH BAHAR, Class of 1985, and his wife, Gigi, are the proud parents of Alex, born June 27.(Source: E-Mail from classmate DENNIS P. BOYE.)

NOT SO HAUTE CUISINE - Last week's note from LEN SUTTER, Class of 1953, about food aboard the TSES II, apparently jogged some long-repressed memories relating to notorious items on Charlie Rey's "Cuisine d'Schuyler" menu. (Don't read further if you've just eaten.) BILL McMULLEN, Class of 1964, remembers: "Collision mats = pancakes; Hockey pucks = hamburgers; and Mung = generally a stew or casserole of some sort that was poorly prepared (in fact, most of it was poorly prepared !) Hot dogs had a broad variety of names than cannot be placed on the web."

A.J. LEVINE, Class of 1949, writes that "On summer cruises the coffee left over from breakfast was mixed with the tea left over from lunch to make a dinner drink called, among other things, 'not to be mentioned in public.' But it was cold so we drank it."

CRAIG SMITH, Class of 1954, writes: "I still can't drink reconstituted powdered milk thanks to the moldy, leftover WWII stuff he brewed for us on the cruises. And then there were his collision-mat pancakes and grease w/egg specialties at Schuyler."

HOT LICKS - Composer and guitarist, CRAIG SMITH (a.k.a. PICKNSING) even wrote this food-related song while he was a cadet at Fort Schuyler:

The meat we get in the mess deck
They say is mighty fine
The precinct cops get all the lean
And we get all the rind.

Craig explains: "Being in the company that assembled in the inner gorge outside his galley door, many is the time the local precinct cruiser would pull up just outside and the boys in blue disappear into the galley. Soon they would reappear carrying parcels of wrapped-up product (guess what) laughing and joking with Charlie." (Editor's note - At the very end of Tremont Avenue at the East River there is now a fancy catering place called "Marina del Rey" and, of course, there's that place in California. Could there be connection here? :)

CALLED THE POLICE - According to a SUNY press release, New York governor, George Pataki, signed legislation on July 22 which broadens the powers of SUNY law enforcement officers. The legislation will change their status from "peace" officers to "police" officers, effective January 1999. The signs on campus vehicles already reflect this name change to "State University Police."

FAMILY TIES

D'ARCY Family - Charles 52 - Ron 60 - Tom MONTANYA 65 (Cousin)

Source: Ron d'Arcy

LONG BOAT? Questions on the "exact" length of the TSES V continue to provoke ingenious explanations. For example, THOMAS HURLEY II, Class of 1986, writes: "the discrepancy regarding the length of the TSES might be due to the large amounts of "red lead" and white paint applied to her hull over the years." A detailed answer from BARRY MARSH, Class of 1986, coming next issue.

BACK TO THOSE LIFEBOAT RACES - The following item was sent by ED DANGLER, Class of 1949, under the subject line: "More international business management philosophy from Tom Bennett." THOMAS E. BENNETT is also a graduate of the Class of 1949.

"The Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive boat race. Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak performance. On the big day they felt ready. The Japanese won by a mile. Afterward, the American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale sagged. Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found, so a consulting firm was hired to investigate the problem and recommended corrective action. The consultant's finding: The Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering; the American team had one person rowing and eight people steering. After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the consultant firm concluded that too many people were steering and not enough were rowing on the American team.

So as race day neared again the following year, the American team's management structure was completely reorganized. The new structure: four steering managers, three area steering managers and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work incentive. The Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the rower for poor performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the problem."