News From Fort Schuyler

"I could not hope to express how much I appreciate that excellent summary of what has happened to the NY Schoolship, NYSM Academy, NYSM College, and now SUNYMC during the past 125 years which you provided us in your NFFS. With the exception of Professor Emeritus FRED HESS, (my chemistry instructor in 1947, would you believe), I think you are now the senior staffer on board the Fort." [Actually, Engineering Department Professor JOHN MATHIESON, Class of 1959, claims that distinction, having joined the staff in 1961. BTW Fred retired a few years ago, but remains a very active Emeritus Professor.]

"Your description of changes which mark that century and a quarter only emphasize the compression of change which we have seen in the past decades and will see even more rapidly in the next few years. Technological advances, globalization of the economy, diversity of the work force, increased markets for high tech goods in regions of the world which today are barely emerging from the 19th century all await our graduates. As a member of the first class to receive bachelor degrees, I can appreciate the difficulty of implementing change in tradition-bound institutions. I am sure the old salts on ST. MARY'S shuddered at the thought of a steam and sail USS NEWPORT, just as much as the AMERICAN PILOT Hog Islander snipes thought the world was coming to an end when the school went to EMPIRE STATE II with twin screw turbo electric plant.. Coming from a people who have survived intact for over 5760 years while other ethnic groups didn't make it, can only be attributed to our ability to adapt to change and still be able to maintain the core values of our traditions."

"I can only imagine what the school will be teaching our future leaders of the then equivalent of maritime industry in a world of submersible transports, SWATH and SLICE hull designs, nuclear, fuel cell and other propulsion systems we can barely imagine. How about space colonization and interstellar transportation of goods ?? Our own SCOTT KELLY can head up that department at Fort Schuyler when he retires from his astronaut activity...BRAVO ZULU for bringing to us that thought provoking tribute to the institution which we hold so dear."

The April 16 NFFS prompted this posting about changes from HORACE KREITZMAN, who entered Maritime with the Class of 1952, but left school before graduation: " Just a short note to let you know how much I have been enjoying 'News From Fort Schuyler'. Brings back lots of memories. As a member of the Class of 1952, I believe we were the first four year class at the Fort, graduating with the degree B.S. in Marine Engineering (for Snipes) or B.S. in Marine Science (for Apes). However, there were graduates of the three year program who attended as Post-Diploma day students to earn their B.S. degree. I can remember PETE PETERSEN, OLEG GAYDEBOUROFF, DICK KIRCHOFF, DAVE PUNZELT. I ran into Dave in 1976 in the Pentagon, who by that time was a four-striper and a helicopter pilot. Dave told me that his daughter [ELIZABETH PUNZELT, Class of 1980] was in the first class at the Fort that accepted women, and that when she shoved off on her first cruise he did have a little trepidation, especially when he remembered the accommodations on board T.S.EMPTY STATE. " "I also remember FILOMENA MAGAVERO, but I think her name was MARTUCCI then [close, it was MARTEMUCCI], who joined the library staff in about '50 or '51[actually, 1949]. There was also another woman librarian, Edith -----, joining the staff about that time, who later became Dr. Degani's wife." [EDITH DEGANI went on to serve as the Assistant Librarian at the Jewish Theological Seminary Library from 1966 until her retirement in 1996. Details at http://www.jtsa.edu Search Index on keyword 'Degani.']

"Well, enough walking down memory lane. Thanks for doing the NFFS, it's great to hear about some of the people I knew back then." [Editor - And hats off to all of you graduates and friends of Fort Schuyler who have such accurate recall of people, places and events after all these years !]