News From Fort Schuyler

March 15, 2002 - Volume 6, No. 10

SAILOR'S ODYSSEY - A rave review for alumni author ALVIN P. CHESTER, Class of 1935, has come from JOHN ZERBO, Class of 1960. "In the last issue of our Alumni Bulletin an excerpt was taken from 'A Sailor's Odyssey' .... I just finished reading the book and it was terrific. If you attended Maritime you can't help but enjoy this book. It is exactly what you know would have taken place in your life had you done what Alvin Chester did. His comments regarding being treated differently because he had previously been in the merchant marine, and therefore went into the US Navy as a reserve officer, instead of being regular Navy, are interesting. His accomplishments during his seafaring life are a tribute to the training and education of the Maritime College (then called New York State Merchant Marine Academy." [The book is available from the Maritime Industry Museum Gift Shop (www.MaritimeIndustryMuseum.org) and many online book dealers.]

SCOUTING SCHUYLER - The Eagle Scout Fraternity at Fort Schuyler is sponsoring its 4th Annual SUNY Maritime College Spring Camporee from April 5 - 7. According to the Eagle Scouts' DomeNet posting: "Your troop will stay aboard the Training Ship Empire State" [back from its loan to Mass Maritime] "- Drive a ship past the Statue of Liberty in our Bridge Simulator - Learn skills in Maritime Pioneering, Boating and Water Safety, Maritime Firefighting, First Aid - Each person participating gets a free patch - Special presentations by FDNY, NYPD, NY State Police. For more information call or E-mail BRIAN KOPKA (718) 409-4050 connelly17@yahoo.com BRIAN ABBOTT (718) 409-2973." [Thanks to ROD McFADDEN, Class of 1975, for this heads up. He also notes: "Probably a little late for this year, but a good choice for next year !"]

SUNY CHANTICLEER - In his Annual Report to the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor Robert L. King pointed with pride to the fact that: "This past year we recruited some remarkable people to the State University - Two Navy three star Admirals: JOHN RYAN, currently Superintendent of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and JOHN CRAINE, just retired Chief of Naval Education and Training. Admiral Ryan will become President of our Maritime College in June of 2002. Admiral Craine is at Maritime now serving as interim president. Later, he will expand his responsibilities to include further development of our Distance Learning efforts and is helping us establish the recently announced Neil Levin Institute of International Relations and Commerce."

NEIL LEVIN INSTITUTE A VIRTUAL REALITY - The SUNY System website in Albany now has a prospectus about the Institute mentioned in the Chancellor's report. Go to www.suny.edu/Files/SharedPDF/levin.pdf This ambitious project, which includes two photos of the Fort Schuyler campus and training ship, seems to be an unfunded initiative requiring endowments and gifts to realize its potential. Although the present tense is frequently used to describe the various components of the Institute - the Institute does not exist: "The State University is providing funding for the initial planning and startup costs and making available facilities in New York City. The Institute will be moving to a permanent home in New York City in the near future."

MELASKY MEMORIAL - Stan's family is appreciative of the many condolences it has received from the college community. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to "The Stan Melasky Memorial Fund." The memorial fund will be used to assist Stan's family in paying for the college tuition of his son, Josh. Donations payable to "The Stan Melasky Memorial Fund" can be sent to the attention of Anne Marie Antonescu, Maritime College Foundation, SUNY Maritime College, 6 Pennyfield Avenue - Fort Schuyler, Bronx, NY 10465. [Note: This Memorial Fund is unrelated to the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler Foundation.]

SKYLINE CAM - The new memorial light tribute to 9-11 victims in downtown Manhattan can be seen on various NYC skycams between dusk and midnight. For example, check live and archived images at www.nj.com/nycskyline/