News From Fort Schuyler

April 25, 2003 - Volume 7, No. 15

LIFE'S SHORT: EAT DESSERT FIRST - Liz Osborne, the daughter of WALTER HESSE, Class of 1940, cited that as one of her father's favorite sayings in the eulogy she gave at the service following his death on 6 April in Monroe, WA, at age 82. In her note informing NFFS of his death, she wrote: "His favorite times were at sea, whether it was in the merchant marine, the U.S. Navy or as a passenger on freighters. A few years ago, he wrote a story about a voyage to Murmansk, Russia, and it is now on the library shelves at Ft. Schuyler." [See NFFS for 20 November 1998 & 13 May 1999.] Walter grew up in Silver Beach, achieved Eagle Scout at age 16, and majored in engineering at Fort Schuyler. His voyage to Murmansk during World War II made him decide that he would join the Navy if he made it back to the U.S., because "At least then there would be gunboats alongside to shoot back."

After naval service on the West Coast, Walter used the GI bill and ended up with a doctorate in Agronomy at Cornell. Liz noted that: "As he was finishing up his program, he attended a lecture by Carl Sagan and discovered his fascination with astronomy, but it was too late to change his major." He returned to California and taught soil science at California Polytechnic, Pomona. "When the college decided to offer an astronomy course, Walter quickly volunteered to teach it. Before long, he'd switched from the agronomy department to the physical sciences department, here he taught 'rocks and stars' to liberal arts majors until he retired."

Walter not only authored books on geology, astronomy, and space science during his academic years ('Our evolving universe,' 'The earth and its environment'), but he and his daughter recently co-authored two novels under the pseudonym, W.L. Hesse, 'Timegate' and 'The Outrider' (published in 2002) - all listed at Amazon.com and other bookdealers.

Liz writes: "Before he died, Walter said that he'd lived a full life, he'd done everything he wanted to do, traveled to a lot of places, and he had no regrets." For more information about this accomplished Maritime College graduate go to: http://www.monroemonitor.com/weeklypages/4-16-03/crumbs.html for a column which quotes extensively from Liz's informative and touching eulogy. For a Seattle Sun article explaining how Walter and Liz became co-authors go to: http://www.jetcitymaven.com/0206jun/outtime.html.

MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE - The New England Alumni Chapter met on 11 April. TONY EDGE, Class of 1961, writes that they and their guests "...enjoyed a fine meal and an interesting slide lecture at Mystic Seaport's Seamen's Inne ....The lecturer for the evening was Dr. Glenn S. Gordinier of the Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies."

"In telling his tale, Gordinier interwove visual images and historical data for colonial days up through Liberty Ship production of World War II... A lively discussion followed the presentation as alums shared their knowledge and memories of those wartime designs. Gordinier also invited the audience to consider joining the maritime history classes at the Munson Institute, Mystic Seaport's summer maritime studies program" by contacting glenn.gordinier@mysticseaport.org [Editor's note - The Munson courses are great, good faculty and lots of required readings from Mystic Seaport's well-stocked GW Blunt White Library.]

Next on the New England chapter's agenda ? A cruise aboard the Liberty Ship JOHN BROWN on Saturday, 24 May, departing and returning to New London, CT.

AMAZING REAPPEARANCE - The student newspaper, The Porthole, has returned after a long hiatus. The new issue, identified as Volume 1, No. 1 (so much for historical perspective) was distributed on campus this week. It is certainly good to have the student voice back in print. [Perhaps the editors should check with the library archivist before the next issue in order to figure out what volume it really is!]

GRADUATION SPEAKER - Recently, PHIL KANTZ, Class of 1965, sent a press release announcing that his classmate, MIKE TONER, President of Electric Boat and newly appointed Executive Vice President, Marine Systems of General Dynamics, would be this year's graduation speaker - at Maine Maritime Academy. The announcement also noted that "He is the former chairman of the executive control board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP), which under his leadership, was revitalized to become a significant influence in the improvement of the shipbuilding industry." Phil commented: "Now wouldn't you think that NY Maritime would be the first in the queue to get someone of this kind of industry standing to address the graduating class? Go figure." [We will just have to wait and see.]

PICTURE THIS -The Mike Johnson Marine Natural History Photography collection features over 150 nature photographs taken in Southern California and northern Baja California, Mexico. Many of the photographs are underwater ones of whales, sunfish, crabs, rays, and other marine life. There are also a few underwater video clips. [Note: Students may use the images for class reports if "they properly credit the source."] http://www.earthwindow.com/ (Source: Librarians' Index to the Internet http:/lii.org)

MORE ON THE BIG U CREW - "In the item on the UNITED STATES, I didn't see a reference to DICK PATTERSON," [Class of 1923] writes TOM CERNY, former Director of Admissions. "Perhaps he was not a permanent captain for the Big U, but was one of its Masters as well as being Commodore of US Lines, as was, I think I recall, LEROY ALEXANDERSON [Class of 1930.]" [According to an Ebb Tide posting on the Alumni Association website, after ADM Richard Oakes Patterson (who died 14 September, 1998) left the Navy in 1946: "He then sailed in the merchant marine until 1972, serving as master aboard a number of United States Lines ships, including the SS UNITED States, and as ship trial master for General Dynamics."]

MORE ON TORCHLIGHT TOURS - Cadet WILLIAM R. KING, Class of 2005, provided additional information about the tours mentioned last week. "The tours are led by Cadets of the Maritime College and will feature costumed reenactors depicting the 1861 garrison of the fort. The tours are based upon new research recently undertaken by cadets of the school and local historians, and are focused on the people who served and suffered at the fort over its 53 year military career. The tours are presented by the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler in cooperation with the Fort Schuyler Regimental Pipe & Drum Corps."