News From Fort Schuyler

March 26, 1999 - Volume 3, No. 15

TRAVEL TIPS FROM DOWN UNDER - "Greetings once again from your roving Indian Ocean news correspondent," writes KEVIN COATES, Class of 1979. "[M/V USNS HENRY J.] KAISER arrived back at the "Rock " Saturday, March 13. We had to divert for a day, due to a tropical cyclone that was crossing our track coming back to Diego Garcia. In this part of the world, that's an everyday occurrence. We needed to spend a few more days at sea to rest up and recuperate. Fremantle was terrific. There is something for everyone there. I have been on both the east (Sydney) and west coasts of Australia, and the west coast, which includes Fremantle, Perth, and Albany down south is the better of both coasts. Hobart, Tasmania is even better than Australia. Both my wife and I are coming back to Fremantle for a long vacation." Still keeping Kevin company at Diego Garcia with the Rapid Deployment Force are: AL SANFORD, Class of 1995, DAVE PRYOR, Class of 1983, JIM SULLIVAN and SCOTT MAGIN, Class of 1987.

SPEAKING OF CYCLONES AND TYPHOONS - On March 16, the New York Times' "Science Times" section featured an article on the causes of the 1980 sinking of the British flag bulk ship DERBYSHIRE during a typhoon. A project urged by the families of the crew and funded by the ITU, led to the 1994 discovery of the ship in over 2.5 miles of water by Oceaneering Technologies, followed up by precision mapping and inspection work by a Woods Hole-led team in 1997. There might be slides and a video animation of the DERBYSHIRE at: http://www.nytimes.com/science

HAILING CONTINUITY - The Maritime Industry Museum invites your attendance at its Thursday, April 22 testimonial dinner to honor its retiring Board of Directors Chairman, CAPT. JEFFREY MONROE and welcome incoming Chairman, CAPT. JAMES McNAMARA, Class of 1964. This event is sure to attract a good cross-section of maritime industry colleagues, friends of the museum, alumni, and staff. It will be held at the Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, near Grand Central Terminal. Cost for cocktails and dinner is $85. Call 718-409-7218 for reservations.

ALT-CTRL-DELETE - Sailing for Mass Maritime on the EMPIRE STATE VI during the recent MMA training cruise was Third Mate DANIEL DOLSON, Class of 1995. (Thanks to ANDRE SLINTAK, Class of 1994, for the head's up.) The note on Fil Magavero's contribution to cutting-edge maritime research came from PHIL DILLOWAY, CLASS of October 1946, not 1941.

WOMEN'S MARCH - The venue is the Luce Library and the exhibit for March celebrates the contribution and achievements of women, with special emphasis on women in the maritime sector.

IDA'S RIDE is the title of a new novel by TRISH SCHIESSER, wife of BOB SCHIESSER, Class of 1958. Ms. Schiesser, a writer, teacher, and publisher, writes about a fictional 1970's woman graduate of SUNY Maritime College, Ida Reed. In 1988, after service in the Navy, 35 year-old Ida joins several other Fort Schuyler graduates on a Great Lakes ore carrier, SS JAKOB STRUMP, were she sails as 3rd Assistant Engineer. Ida, whose father is also a SUNY Maritime alumnus, is described on the book jacket as "...the unlikely heroine whom all women wish to be: strong, self-reliant, but not without faults - the epitome of a new breed of women." The exciting plot includes secret agendas, Navy SEALS, plenty of nautical stuff, and ample echoes of Fort Schuyler throughout. We congratulate Ms. Schiesser on publishing her first novel and thank her for providing copies for both the ashore and ship library collections. The book is available from the Old Lieutenant Press (619-216-7940.)

HERITAGE WALL UPDATE - This note from EVERETT ROSENBLUM, Class of 1946: "The Class of 1946 has set Homecoming Day .. 1999 for the full dedication of its Heritage Wall. The wall was partially completed to rave reviews on Homecoming Day 1998. The wall presently represents the period from its founding through 1946 and through all of the training ships up to EMPIRE STATE 2."

"A group of graduates representing the classes from 1947 to the present are currently working on the additional four panels to be erected on the Heritage Wall along with additional photos and biographies of distinguished alumni and others associated with the college."

"All expenses for preparation and installation of the four panels will be borne by the class of October 1946.. In addition, OTTO LIEPIN, Chairperson of the Committee, has announced that a luncheon will be sponsored by the class and Professor FRED HESS will be the guest speaker. He and Librarian Emerita, FILOMENA MAGAVERO will be honored for their outstanding efforts and contributions to the Wall Committee and to the school."

The next meeting of the Heritage Wall Committee is scheduled for April 29 (10AM in the Luce Library Reading Room.) Volunteers always are welcome. Contact the Alumni Office for details.