News From Fort Schuyler

October 25, 2002 - Volume 6, No. 32

EBB TIDE - Family, friends and classmates are mourning the untimely death of AARON "BEAN" CARTER, Class of 1999 (graduated in '00). Aaron died in a car accident near Baltimore on 20 October. According to an obituary from the 23 October Baltimore Sun (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries) Aaron, 26, was a mechanical engineer and club lacrosse player. A colleague from RFM Engineering in Baltimore recalled: "He was filled with enthusiasm - he would take the challenge, complete the task and exceed the expectations." His exuberant Maritime College yearbook entry reflected these characteristics as well. Aaron wrote: "My father said to me before I went to college that I would make the best friends of my life in college. Well he was definitely correct. People said that this school sucks and that there is nothing to do here! Well, it is all of what you make of it. I have had four of the best years of my life here, partying with my friends and hanging out, times that I will never forget.... Bean is Out of here!" He is survived by immediate family, and - as classmate AMIE CARTER, Class of 2000, responded to a query from NFFS if she was related to Aaron - "... of course we are related - we are part of the 'Maritime Family', but there is no blood relation." A burial mass was offered in Timonium, MD on 24 October at the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Roman Catholic Church.

VISITING A NOAA SHIP - An illustrated article in the "Maritime Watch" news section of the college website (http://www.sunymaritime.edu) highlights a visit by Fort Schuyler Marine Environmental Science students to the state-of-the-art oceanographic and research vessel, RONALD H. BROWN, commanded by CAPT DONALD DREVES, Class of 1969. The visit of the class, taught by ANTHONY MANZI, Class of 1989, was suggested by ship's navigator, ENS JENNIFER PRALGO, Class of 1998. According to the article, the ship, built in 1996, "...is one of only three ships in the world that have a weather surveillance Doppler Radar platform onboard which can measure atmospheric precipitation and storm dynamics within a 150-mile radius of the ship." For details on the RONALD H. BROWN go to: http://www.moc.noaa.gov/rb/

LONG TIME CONNECTION - Memories of HOPE BECKER from HUGH STRAUB, Class of 1969: "I wanted to mention how saddened I was to learn of Hope Becker's death. I had no idea she was working at Fort Schuyler, nor had I heard anything about her in the last thirty-five years."

"We were contemporaries growing up in Larchmont, NY, and during summers, we with other sailing kids, hung out at the Larchmont Yacht Club. She and her sister, Carol, even then, were avid sailors. During the yacht club's annual race week, the Becker sisters always hosted THE BEST PARTY, inviting all the junior sailors participating in the races from clubs all over Western Long Island Sound. The Becker's party was the event of the summer; the one we all eagerly awaited. And, typical of Hope's warmth, kindness and generosity, she included us all. Looking back now as a parent, I'm amazed Hope's mom and dad let the party happen more than once, but they did."

"So, while Hope has now passed into our Lord's nearer presence, she will always live in my mind's eye as a laughing, charming, sixteen year old."

NUCLEAR FAMILY - Confirmation that FRED DACIMO, Class of 1974, and VINCENT DACIMO, Class of 1979, are brothers comes from both FRED DOLL, Class of 1979, and retired professor, JOE LONGOBARDI, Science Department. The Brothers Dacimo are both engineers at nuclear generating plants in the Northeast. (See NFFS 18 October for feature on Fred.)

FINAL CURTAIN FOR LONG-TIME MAGICIAN - News of the death of HAROLD 'DICK' MATHISON, Class of October 1946, comes from his classmate, OTTO LIEPIN. "We knew him from our mug days as 'The Magician.' Dick would help to liven up our gatherings in the Foc'sle area (mug country) on the old EMPIRE STATE (AMERICAN PILOT) by performing his magic tricks. With his nimble fingers, he would pull quarters out of classmates' ears or, with his ever present deck of cards, he always had another trick to perform. Dick is no longer with us. He departed this world on 28 September. He had been battling cancer for the past ten years. Even through all of his illness, he organized a group of amateur magicians in the Ocala, FL area and they performed in the area, entertaining senior citizens in nursing homes, etc."

"His family has suggested that any contributions in his memory be made to our Class of October '46 Scholarship Fund which has been established to help needy SUNY-MC mugs with their entering expenses, uniforms - books. This scholarship should become available for next year's entering class. Eileen Femenia, [Director of Alumni Programs], has the details available for those alumni wishing to contribute." Contact Eileen at Director@fsmaa.org

NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN - You oldsters can brush up on your internet skills with a free course offered by AARP. According to the Librarians' Index to the Internet (http://www.lii.org ): "This tutorial for the beginner covers the basics: 'Understanding your web browser, including menus, toolbars, web addresses, getting around on web pages, bookmarks, printing, and help for common problems.' It features simple instructions, illustrations, definitions, and a discussion forum (free registration required for the forum.)" Go to AARP at: http://www.aarp.org/learninternet/