News From Fort Schuyler

June 5, 2001 - Volume 5, No. 21

SHIP'S LOG FOR SST2001 IS PICTURE PERFECT - A click on Summer Sea Term from the college home page brings you to a slide show of captioned cruise photos taken by the Cruise Log staff with the new digital camera provided by the Parent's Association. In addition, your can sign and view the Guest Book. Start at: www.sunymaritime.edu

GRADUATE STUDENTS AFLOAT - Input from the Director of the Graduate School, Prof. JEFFREY WEISS, Class of 1978: "Five of Maritime College's graduate students sailed onboard the training ship as Student Observers during the first leg of the summer cruise from New York to Philadelphia (via Norfolk, Chesapeake Bay and the C&D Canal.)" [More on the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal at - www.nap.usace.army.mil ]

"The students proudly displayed their new 'Z' cards, observed the use of ground tackle, participated in lifeboat and firefighting drills, toured a working engine-room, observed bridge watchstanding, and attended numerous lectures on shipboard operations and vessel safety. The officers, crew, and cadets onboard were both helpful and receptive."

According to Jeff, who taught this course: "The graduate students work shoreside in the business of shipping and its related areas. The course is designed to bridge the knowledge and communication 'gap' between shipboard and shoreside personnel."

RING THE BELLS - The May 27 Journal News (White Plains, NY) carried the announcement of the wedding of DAVID A. ROSS, Class of 1995, to KATHLEEN HINEY. The couple were wed at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Croton-on-Hudson on March 17. David is a vessel planner with the Columbus Line. Felicitations.

V FOR VICTORY - It seems that JOE GERSON, Class of 1947, is the nation's "Johnny Appleseed" of WW II-era Victory Class ships, at least on the East Coast and Midwest. The Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler has, of course, a display designed around DURANGO VICTORY artifacts in Victory Hall. Joe has also seen to it that his "other" alma mater, Detroit's Wayne State University, honors mariners with a permanent display featuring artifacts from the WAYNE VICTORY. (Go to: www.media.wayne.edu click on "Campus News - Back Issues" and search for "Exhibit sails into Old Main") Then in Tampa, Joe is a major supporter and board member of the AMERICAN VICTORY Mariners Memorial & Museum Ship. A lead article written by CAPT JOHN TIMMEL, Class of 1981, for their "Steaming as Before" newsletter states that: "If our progress continues at the same pace, we're confident that 2001 will be the year when the AMERICAN VICTORY achieves a big milestone - making her own steam again.!" John is President and Executive of the AMERICAN VICTORY Museum Ship. Other Fort Schuyler alumni involved in this major ship restoration project are ALLAN LONSCHEIN, Class of 1946, and ROBERT FRANZBLAU, Class of 1947. More at www.americanvictory.org

DUFFERS WELCOME - There is still time to win a $20,000 Alumni Association Raffle by participating in the Thirteenth Annual Golf and Tennis Classic Cadet Scholarship Fund-Raiser on Monday June 11th. There is a choice of three venues this year. For all the details go to www.fsmaa.org

SIX-PACK EDDIE GOES TO WASHINGTON - Described by NPR host, Bob Edwards, as "America's first male ballet superstar," EDWARD VILLELLA, Class of 1959, was interviewed by Susan Stamberg on Morning Edition. The occasion was Villella's appearance at the Kennedy Center with the Miami Ballet. Villella, the founder and now artistic director of the Miami group, performed himself for the first time in many years. To listen, go to Morning Edition, May 30 2001 at http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/20010530.me.16.rmm

CLASSY TERMINAL FOR FAST FERRY - The ferry terminal at Pier 11 in Manhattan, designed by Robert Polidori, got a rave review from architecture critic Paul Goldberger in the May 28 issue of The New Yorker (pp. 84-85.) According to Goldberger: "The new ferry terminal celebrates the routine passages of everyday life while hinting at the excitement of travel across the water..." For some views of the building go to www.archrecord.com Click on "project portfolio" and go to "May 2001 projects"

OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST: The Norfolk area newspaper, The Virginian-Pilot, recently ran an in-depth series of articles by reporter Bill Burke on shipyards and asbestos. Titled: "Shipbuilding's Deadly Legacy," the articles feature audio slide shows as well as text. Go to www.pilotonline.com/special/asbestos/ and search for "asbestos".

If you need to find the online version of your local paper in a hurry go to: www.newsdirectory.com/news/press/na/us/