News From Fort Schuyler

September 17, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 43

HATS OFF TO THE CLASS OF 1948 AS THEY MARCH AT FORT SCHUYLER - A full schedule of events is planned for Homecoming this weekend. You can still pack a bag and head for campus. There are chanteys from "The Rum Soaked Crooks" in a Friday Cigar Night at the Sailing Center.

On Saturday the Class of 1948 leads the Class of 2002 in the Pass in Review. A very special exhibition about EXODUS and other ships that brought Jewish refugees to Palestine fifty years ago, "Passage to the Promised Land," will be dedicated at the Maritime Industry Museum. A new painting of the TSES II will be unveiled by the Class of 1948. A reception will be held to honor Commodore LEROY ALEXANDERSON, Class of 1930 and his wife on the occasion of their 15th anniversary. Contact the Alumni Office (718-409-7353) or the Museum (718-409-7218) for details.

LIFELONG LEARNING ON THE CHOW LINE - Amplifying classmate BILL McMULLEN's memory of the confrontation over food on the mess deck in the sixties, MIKE QUINTO, Class of 1964, writes:

"My memory is that there was a food strike that went on for a day or so. The hero of the occasion was Battalion Commander JACK RINGELBERG, Class of 1961. When ADMIRAL MOORE called him in to get to the bottom of it all, he stood up for his men, at the risk of losing his rate. I learned an awful lot from Jack as a result of that incident, but didn't realize it at the time."

OUR LITERARY LION IS PURRING THIS WEEK - Not only did DR. IAN MacNIVEN of the Humanities Department garner a full-page rave review for his biography of the novelist, Lawrence Durrell, in the September 13 New York Times Book Review, BUT he also received word that he has been awarded the 1998 Lawrence Durrell Scholarship. You can still see an exhibit at the Luce Library about the creation of this book until mid-October. Dr. MacNiven plans to fly to Antibes in the French Riviera to pick up his FF 10,000 award in person at the 2 October ceremony.

I AM NOT KIDDING - On October 14 a bicycling event called "Tour de Bronx and Bike Race" will be zipping around Fort Schuyler. Call da Bronx Borough President's Office for info: (718) 590-3500.

ANOTHER SALTY STORY - GERD GLANG's memories of high salt content beverages on his 1981 Mug Cruise rang a bell for ROBERT KENNEY,Class of 1992: "This brought back a rush of memories upon my taste buds in regard to my First Class Cruise 1991. The place was north of the Arctic Circle - the time was our Blue Nose Ceremony. One of the stations during the gauntlet that provided relief from walking on our knees on the non-skid was the drinking fountain. The drink mix was a combination of pure sea water (sans the luxury of the evaps) and fruit punch. We only had to take a little swig but the expression on everyone's face was as if we just did a shot of tequila! To add injury to insult, the next station was kissing the belly of Prof. Monroe. Now you decide which is more bitter tasting? I think I had that salty taste in my mouth for the rest of the trip back to the Dome."

CHALLENGE MET BY SCHUYLER - The Director of Waterfront Activities, BILL LINDMAN, Class of 1973, reports that the college tug, GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER, won three trophies at the Sixth Annual 1998 INTREPID Tugboat Challenge on September 6: Best Vintage Tug (best looking tug over 50 years old) - Nose-to-Nose Pushing Contest - Second place in Division 4 (1000 HP or less) in the North River Race.

FAMILY TIES KEEP GROWING - The cumulation last week generated a flurry of additions. Some submissions included in this issue were incomplete, so please send in corrections as needed.

AXELSSON Family: Kurt 61 - Mike 68 - Tim 82 (Kurt's son) Bill Band -71 (brother-in-law)

BAUS Siblings: Patricia 86 - Robert 89

BJORKNER Family: Art 62 - Erik 90

BURDON Family: Eugene R 52 - Bruce 83 - Coningsby 79 (nephew)

CAPIRIS Siblings: Tom 80 - Joe 85

HICKS Siblings: Jonathan 61 - Dan 68

MAGEE Siblings: Gene 76- Tim 80

MOORE Family: Donald 75 - Donald, Jr 00

MURPHY Family: Kenneth 68 - Bryan 89

SADLER Siblings: Robert 68 - Charles 75 - Richard 76 - Bruce 77 - Stephen 77

STAGG Siblings: Juan H. 79 - Octavio 83

Contributors: Art Bjorkner, Bob Burdon, Jim Cavo, Austin L. Dooley, Donald Moore, Kenneth Murphy, Hugh Polanco, Juan H. Stagg.

EBB TIDE - Word has been received of the death of CARL BURNETT, Class of 1950, the first African-American graduate of the Maritime College.

News that a tragic boating accident in the Gulf of Mexico took the life of JOSEPH J. PORRECA, Class of 1969, on September 5 was just received from MIKE JONES, his roommate at Maritime for three years. Joe is survived by his wife and two children.