News From Fort Schuyler

June 11, 2000 - Volume 4, No. 20

MARITIME LOSES A SPECIAL PERSON - A long-time college employee, TERESA PROUT, died on June 7 after a brief illness. Terry, who emigrated from Ireland, worked at the college for 17 years, first at the Mess Deck and then for the custodial department. Terry took pride in her work. She was a hard, conscientious worker. She always made sure that those great oak tables in the Luce Library Reading Room looked their best. Terry was an important "behind the scenes" member of the Maritime College family who will be missed.

REMEMBERING WOODY - A note from KEN COFFEY, Class of 1948: "So sorry to learn about Woody's passing. [May 31 issue] ...I liked his style about having a party after his funeral. I sailed with MooreMac on several ships and we met in Buenos Aires and sucked up a few beers. I almost missed my ship.

I was in his compartment along with GEORGE HANFT, PHIL MONK and a couple of other "upper classmen." Even though I was in the Class of '48, this compartment contained some great guys from the Class of '47. Good natured mug beating from this bunch, that's for sure."

GAME SHOWING - Jeopardy contestant Prof. RICHARD MAGEE will not be able to give up teaching Humanities at Maritime for the foreseeable future. His anticipated participation in the show brought comments from the alumni 's leading game show expert, JOHN O'SULLIVAN, Class of 1984: " I hope he does better than I did on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" earlier this month. I was 4/4/ on being correct on the Fast Fingers (the only one in the past 2 months), but between 1.13 and 1.90 seconds to slow. I lost the last one to a total moron who did now know which direction a compass pointed to." John also reports that: "One of my trivia teammates...a three-time Jeopardy ! winner...pointed out that to win on Jeopardy ! it is about 60% knowledge and 40% luck in the timing of pressing the button. One bad press cost him from becoming a 5-time winner."

REMEMBERING THE MARINERS - There is a mariner in Pennsylvania, BILL GIBNEY, Class of 1944, who is featured in a column entitled, "Merchant Marines forgotten veterans" This Memorial Day column by Joe Halberstein appeared in the May 29 issue of the Buck Country Courier Times. It describes the years of effort it took for merchant mariners like Bill to receive official recognition as veterans, something that had been promised by FDR but died with him. Bill Gibney's story personalizes the dilemma of mariners who returned from war, but did not receive the same advantages of armed forces veterans in terms of benefits and preferences. Veterans status was finally awarded to mariners in 1988, 43 years after the war. To read the article, go to: http://www.phillyburbs.com Click on the box for Bucks County Courier. Click on "News Archives" Scroll down to May 29 - "Merchant Marines forgotten veterans." For details about veterans status for merchant mariners go to the home page of the American Merchant Marine Veterans organization at: http://www.ifu.net/~halladay/ammv.htm

MARITIME DAY 2000 - While Maritime Day is marked with proclamations and ceremonies in many coastal cities once a year in May, in a way it is celebrated daily at museums such as the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler and the AMERICAN VICTORY Museum Ship in Tampa. The Fort Schuyler museum has a "Victory Hall" while the Tampa site has a whole ship. JOE GERSON, Class of 1947, also notes that: "Apart from CAPTAIN VALENTINE '43 serving as Master, and Captain JOHN TIMMEL '81, as President, 6 of the 16 members of the Board of Directors of the S/S AMERICAN VICTORY Mariners Memorial/Museum Ship are Fort Schuyler graduates, namely: BOB FRANZBLAU '47, TOM FOX '62, ALLAN LONSCHEIN '46, RAY MATHEWSON '70, JOHN TIMMEL '81, and JOE GERSON '47. Interestingly, Tom Fox was Chief Mate on S/S AMERICAN VICTORY during the Vietnam War."

DOT.COM GUY - A press release brings the news that RAY SALEEBY, Class of 1967, has been named President and CEO of Myutility.com "... the world's first commercial internet energy services company to exclusively serve the business community." Ray, previously a managing partner at AT&T Solutions, is quoted as saying that Myutility "...will help businesses be more profitable, save truckloads of energy dollars and be environmentally responsible." A website launch is planned soon at http://www.myutility.com

BATTERY CONTACTS - The Sea Scouts of Port Royal need juice. Accordingly, JACK HAYES, Class of 1947, is looking for a contact with the battery industry. "The Sea Scout boat [LONO KAI] needs two 4D GELLCELL batteries before they go on a cruise to Charleston and beyond with a Boy Scout event. Interstate wants $399.99 EACH." Anyone with contacts (or batteries) contact Jack at 843-838-2033 or jackhayes@islc.net

SST 2000 - The Training Ship EMPIRE STATE VI arrives Tuesday at Tilbury Docks for its London port visit. The online Cruise Log is better than ever. This year you can not only keep up to date with the voyage, but also send a message to the ship via the SST Guest Book. Start your trip at: http://www.sunymaritime.edu